08 Feb Asthma Risk Varies Among Hispanic Groups After Relocation to the U.S.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Elina Jerschow
Elina Jerschow, M.D., M.Sc., FAAAAI, FACAAI
Associate Professor of Medicine, Allergy/ Immunology Division
Director, Drug Allergy Center
Montefiore Medical Center
The University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, New York 10461
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Asthma prevalence varies across and within countries, and markedly increased rates of asthma have been observed in recent decades. Recent time-trends may be attributed to increased urbanization and dissemination of a Western lifestyle.
In the US, asthma disproportionally affects African-Americans and Hispanics/Latinos living in urban areas. Among Hispanics/Latinos, asthma prevalence varies from 5.7 % for Mexicans/Mexican-Americans to 16.5% for Puerto Ricans. Besides national background, US nativity, longer duration of US residence, and having one or two parents born in the US have been previously reported as acculturation-related risk factors for asthma in foreign born children. Asthma prevalence was also higher in foreign-born Latinos who relocated to the US as children.
MedicalResearch.com:? What are the main findings?
Response: Study results indicate that US nativity and US residence were not uniformly associated with asthma among various US Hispanic/Latino groups. While those born in the Dominican Republic and Mexico experienced an increase in asthma incidence after migration to the US, there was little evidence for a relationship between relocation to the US mainland and increased asthma among Cubans or Central/South Americans. The results also suggested that among Mexican and Dominican immigrants to the US, asthma risk over time approaches that of their US-born counterparts. In contrast to other immigrant groups, the incidence of asthma among Cubans may have decreased (rather than increased) after moving to the US.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: The effect of relocation to the US on asthma risk was not uniform across different groups of Hispanics/Latinos. While asthma risk increased after relocation among some Latinos (Dominicans and Mexicans), it decreased in Cubans or did not significantly change in Central/South Americans. The association between relocation to the US and asthma in Puerto Ricans was not strong, suggesting that other factors play a role in asthma development, and that these findings cannot be explained by early age at immigration alone.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: These results may have implications in formulating preventive strategies specific to the US Hispanic/Latino population. Further research is needed to uncover modifiable asthma risk factors that explain heterogeneities identified here.
No disclosures
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Citation:
Effect of Relocation to the U.S. on Asthma Risk Among Hispanics
Jerschow, Elina et al.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine , Volume 0 , Issue 0 ,
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Last Updated on February 8, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD