Home-based educational intervention improves asthma among Hispanic children – EurekAlert (press release)

Home-based educational intervention improves asthma among Hispanic children
EurekAlert (press release)
New Rochelle, NY, November 10, 2015–Significant improvements in frequency of asthma attacks and symptoms, hospitalization rates and acute care visits, quality of life, and asthma knowledge were reported among a largely Hispanic population with a high …

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Genetic Ancestry and Asthma and Rhinitis Occurrence in Hispanic Children: Findings from the Southern California Children’s Health Study.

Genetic Ancestry and Asthma and Rhinitis Occurrence in Hispanic Children: Findings from the Southern California Children’s Health Study.

PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0135384

Authors: Salam MT, Avoundjian T, Knight WM, Gilliland FD

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Asthma and rhinitis are common childhood health conditions. Being an understudied and rapidly growing population in the US, Hispanic children have a varying risk for these conditions that may result from sociocultural (including acculturative factors), exposure and genetic diversities. Hispanic populations have varying contributions from European, Amerindian and African ancestries. While previous literature separately reported associations between genetic ancestry and acculturation factors with asthma, whether Amerindian ancestry and acculturative factors have independent associations with development of early-life asthma and rhinitis in Hispanic children remains unknown. We hypothesized that genetic ancestry is an important determinant of early-life asthma and rhinitis occurrence in Hispanic children independent of sociodemographic, acculturation and environmental factors.
METHODS: Subjects were Hispanic children (5-7 years) who participated in the southern California Children’s Health Study. Data from birth certificates and questionnaire provided information on acculturation, sociodemographic and environmental factors. Genetic ancestries (Amerindian, European, African and Asian) were estimated based on 233 ancestry informative markers. Asthma was defined by parental report of doctor-diagnosed asthma. Rhinitis was defined by parental report of a history of chronic sneezing or runny or blocked nose without a cold or flu. Sample sizes were 1,719 and 1,788 for investigating the role of genetic ancestry on asthma and rhinitis, respectively.
RESULTS: Children had major contributions from Amerindian and European ancestries. After accounting for potential confounders, per 25% increase in Amerindian ancestry was associated with 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74-0.99) and 13.6% (95% CI: 0.79-0.98) lower odds of asthma and rhinitis, respectively. Acculturation was not associated with either outcome.
CONCLUSIONS: Earlier work documented that Hispanic children with significant contribution from African ancestry are at increased asthma risk; however, in Hispanic children who have little contribution from African ancestry, Amerindian ancestry was independently associated with lower odds for development of early-childhood asthma and rhinitis.

PMID: 26263549 [PubMed – in process]

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The Hispanic health paradox across generations: the relationship of child generational status and citizenship with health outcomes.

Related Articles

The Hispanic health paradox across generations: the relationship of child generational status and citizenship with health outcomes.

Public Health. 2015 May 19;

Authors: Balcazar AJ, Grineski SE, Collins TW

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In examining the Hispanic health paradox, researchers rarely determine if the paradox persists across immigrant generations. This study examines immigrant respiratory health disparities among Hispanic children in terms of current asthma, bronchitis, and allergies using an expanded six-group immigrant cohort framework that includes citizenship and the fourth-plus generation.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional primary survey data from 1568 caretakers of Hispanic schoolchildren in El Paso, Texas (USA), were utilized.
METHODS: Data were analyzed using generalized linear models.
RESULTS: Results indicate that a healthy immigrant advantage lasts until the 2.5 generation for bronchitis and allergies (P < 0.05), and until the third generation for asthma (P < 0.10). Citizenship was not an influence on the likelihood of a child having a respiratory health condition.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the utility of the expanded six-group cohort framework for examining intergenerational patterns in health conditions among immigrant groups.

PMID: 26002345 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Montefiore Study Examines Weight and Asthma in Hispanic, African-American … – Newswise (press release)

Montefiore Study Examines Weight and Asthma in Hispanic, African-American
Newswise (press release)
Newswise — NEW YORK (February 19, 2013) – Even small amounts of excess weight can adversely affect lung function in Hispanic and African-American children who have a higher prevalence of asthma compared to their Caucasian counterparts,

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