Diane E. McLean|Shawn Bowen|Karen Drezner|Amy Rowe|Peter Sherman|Scott A. Schroeder|Karen Redlener|Irwin Redlener
Asthma Among Homeless Children
New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute|Columbia University|Yeshiva University|Yeshiva University|Yeshiva University|Yeshiva University|Yeshiva University|Columbia University
united states children color children live urban medically underserved communities children whose families limited economic resources excessively high rates asthma identification highrisk subgroups underserved children crucial understanding determinants scope childhood asthma epidemic developing successful interventionsto determine population prevalence asthma among homeless childrencrosssectional studythree family shelters new york citya total 740 children whose families entered 3 family shelters june 30 1998 september 18 1999prior physician asthma diagnosis current asthma symptoms using national asthma education prevention program symptom criteria current medications emergency department use past yearof children 269 prior physician diagnosis asthma addition 129 children without prior physician diagnosis asthma reported symptoms consistent moderate severe persistent asthma overall 398 homeless children new york city likely asthma children persistent asthma received antiinflammatory treatment almost 50 486 children severe persistent asthma least 1 emergency department visit past year 248 children symptoms mild intermittent asthma least 1 visitthe prevalence asthma among random sample homeless children new york city likely 398more 6 times national rate children asthma homeless children also likely severe substantially undertreated