MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Puerto Ricans have the highest asthma rates among U.S. Hispanics, while Mexican-Americans have the lowest rates, a new study finds.
"Asthma is a common health problem in Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico. In contrast, the prevalence of self-reported asthma is relatively low, but not negligible, given the large population size, in Mexican-Americans," study author Dr. Juan C. Celedon, of Channing Laboratory in Boston, said in a prepared statement.
In their review of data, the researchers found that, compared with Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans had an earlier onset of asthma, lower lung function test results, a higher risk of hospitalization for asthma, and more asthma-related emergency room visits.
The study also found that age-related asthma death rates (per 1 million people) were 40.9 in Puerto Ricans, 38.1 in non-Hispanic blacks, 15.8 in Cuban Americans, 14.7 in non-Hispanic whites, and 9.2 in Mexican-Americans.
It's not clear why asthma rates vary so widely between Hispanic subgroups, but the answer probably lies in "unidentified genetic variants and other factors, including environmental tobacco smoke exposure, obesity, allergen exposure and availability of health care," Celedon said.
Broadening access to health care, improving housing conditions, and reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, along with a reduction in other indoor allergens would have a major impact on asthma rates among poor Hispanics, he said.
The study appears in the January issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about asthma.
