Low-Income Californians Bear Unequal Burden of Asthma

Publication Date: February 2007

Publisher: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Author(s): Susan H. Babey; Theresa A. Hastert; Ying-Ying Meng; E. Richard Brown

Research Area: Health

Keywords: asthma; low income

Type: Brief

Coverage: California

Abstract:

In California, 2.8 million children and adults (900,000 children and 1.9 million adults) suffer from active asthma. One out of six of these Californians (16%) lives below the poverty level.

Low-income adults and children with active asthma disproportionately bear the burden of asthma. They experience more frequent symptoms, go to the emergency department (ED) more often for asthma care, miss more school and have poorer health status. They also are more likely to lack access to health care and to live in conditions associated with asthma exacerbations.