Objectives: We analyzed national data to estimate asthma prevalence among U.S. adults by urban-rural residence and to determine the relative contributions of sociodemographic and health behavior characteristics on the probability of reporting asthma.

Methods: We linked the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to Urban Influence Codes (UICs), categorizing respondents into four urban-rural groups: metropolitan, adjacent metropolitan, micropolitan, and remote. BRFSS collects health data from all 50 states. UICs classify respondent's county as urban or rural based on population size and proximity to metropolitan areas. We calculated asthma prevalence estimates and generated odds ratios (ORs) for the probability of reporting asthma.

Results: Overall asthma prevalence (7.9%; 95%CI = 7.73-8.08) was not statistically different (p = 0.28) by urban-rural residence. After adjusting for selected characteristics, adjacent metropolitan (OR = 0.96; 95%CI = 0.90-1.02) and remote (OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.85-1.05) residents were less likely--and micropolitan (OR = 1.04; 95%CI = 0.93-1.16) residents were more likely--to report asthma compared with metropolitan residents; but confidence intervals included null.

Conclusions: Asthma prevalence is as high in rural as in urban areas. Certain demographic, behavioral, and health care characteristics unique to place of residence might affect asthma prevalence. Because these results substantially change our understanding of asthma prevalence in rural areas, further investigation is needed to determine geographic-related risk factors.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

asthma prevalence
28
urban-rural residence
12
asthma
8
probability reporting
8
adjacent metropolitan
8
prevalence
7
metropolitan
5
national survey
4
survey adult
4
adult asthma
4

Similar Publications

Allergic asthma is a significant international concern in respiratory health, which can be exacerbated by the increasing levels of non-allergenic pollutants. This rise in airborne pollutants is a primary driver behind the growing prevalence of asthma, posing a health emergency. Additionally, climatic risk factors can contribute to the onset and progression of asthma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A Guide to Pediatric Antibiotic Allergy Testing: A Report from the United States Drug Allergy Registry.

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract

January 2025

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Pediatric antibiotic labels are common, and unnecessary antibiotic avoidance is associated with negative personal and public health outcomes; as a result, there is an increasing emphasis on the importance of pediatric antibiotic allergy evaluations. Different testing strategies have been advised, including skin testing and challenge testing with varied doses and duration. Established consensus testing protocols are lacking.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To assess the association of dietary fatty acids with asthma in Indian school children.

Methods: Children aged 6-16 years were enrolled from randomly selected urban schools in 10 cities. The International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III Questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of asthma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases are important causes of disability and mortality globally. Their incidence may be higher in remote locations where healthcare is limited and risk factors, such as smoking and indoor air pollution, are more prevalent. E-health could overcome some healthcare access obstacles in remote locations, but its utilisation has been limited.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) have been shown to be associated with frailty, but these findings have not yet reached a consensus. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CRDs and frailty in the elderly using a nationally representative data from China.

Methods: Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were analysed, including 3309 frailty-free participants followed for three waves from 2011.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!