While rates of childhood asthma appear to be experiencing a plateau among many groups in the US, research indicates that the trend cannot be seen across each and every demographic.
According to recent figures, rates in the United States have experienced a levelling-out among most groups except those involving children aged 10 and older or those from a more deprived socio-economic background.
History indicates that the condition’s prevalence had been increasing for decades, seeing a peak of 9.7% in 2009 – a figure which remained relatively constant until finally dropping to 8.3% in 2013.
While researchers insist that it is too soon to tell whether the recent drop indicates a significant decline or simply the beginning of another prolonged plateau, they are hopeful the US is following the same pattern seen across the globe.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Lara Akinbami of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Centre for Health Statistics, suggests the study signals welcome news.
“International data on asthma prevalence over time shows that trends appear to be levelling off in many countries, and suggests that the trend in the United States seems to be following a general pattern.”
Offering possible explanations as to why the trend isn’t evident across all social groups however, researchers highlight particular issues which may affect low-income families, including poor indoor air quality, dust mite and cockroach exposure in addition to poor housing conditions.
According to reports, Dr. Avni Joshi of the Mayo Clinic offered a further insight, saying: “Children in poor households experience a higher psychological stress, which is another risk factor for asthma.”
While children aged between 10 and 17 and those from a lower socioeconomic background have experienced a rise in prevalence, researchers are eager to focus on the positives born of the study, with Dr. Todd Mahr of Gundeersen Health System asserting: “It appears that progress is occurring in decreasing the asthma epidemic."
The study has been published in the Pediatrics journal.
