Childhood asthma prevalence has plateaued and may have declined for the first time since 1980.1 Although this news is promising, it is important not to lose sight of the significant disparities in asthma outcomes that remain by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. We must reduce these disparities, and health care organizations’ increasing focus on population health presents a prime opportunity to do so. Now is a critical time to invest in research and quality improvement initiatives that directly target the persistent disparities in childhood asthma outcomes.
Disparities in asthma outcomes have been documented since the 1980s. Children of racial or ethnic minorities face higher morbidity and mortality due to asthma when compared with white children. Non-Hispanic African American children have 2 to 3 times higher rates of hospitalization and emergency department visits compared with non-Hispanic white children. African American children face a 4.9-fold higher asthma mortality rate. In addition,...
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