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October 17, 2006
Los Angeles - Among findings that should have far-reaching implications for California's healthcare system, nearly 6 million Californians report that they have difficulty breathing. Moreover, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, asthma among California adults increased from 2001 to 2003 across all age groups and 3.4 million who haven't been diagnosed with asthma suffer from asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing.
"Clearly, asthma and other breathing problems are significant issues for Californians, and a growing challenge for our healthcare system," said Susan H. Babey, PhD, lead author of the study and a research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
The study also shows that asthma and asthma-like breathing problems disproportionately affect young children, African Americans and American Indian/Alaska Natives. About 19 percent of children age 5 and younger experience asthma or asthma-like symptoms, the most of any age group and 4 percentage points higher than ages 18 to 24, which has the lowest.
About 24 percent of African American children suffered from asthma or asthma-like symptoms - a number that drops to 18 percent for whites, 15 percent for Latinos and 14 percent for Asians. About 34 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native adults suffered from asthma symptoms or other breathing problems, compared to 20 percent of African American adults, 19 percent of white adults, 13 percent of Latino adults and 10 percent of Asian adults.
The brief also details the differences among California counties in terms of asthma symptoms and other asthma-like breathing problems. Butte (13 percent), Solano (12 percent) and Napa (12 percent) counties ranked highest for asthma symptoms, while San Francisco, Orange and Riverside counties (all at 5 percent) were the lowest. Humbolt, Del Norte, Sutter and Yuba counties in the northern and Sierra parts of the state ranked the highest for asthma-like symptoms at 15 percent, while Santa Clara, Solano and Orange counties ranked the lowest.
"The rising level of asthma prevalence can have serious consequences to the health and productivity of Californians. Asthma is already one of the leading causes of school absenteeism," said Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO of The California Endowment, which provided funding for the policy brief. "This research tells us we need to act now to develop and implement effective policies to improve indoor and outdoor air quality in the communities most impacted. Furthermore, we must enable those suffering from asthma to receive the health care services they need to better control this condition"
Since it was first conducted in 2001, the California Health Interview Survey has been an essential tool for policy makers, researchers and health advocates at every level needing a detailed snapshot of the complex health needs of California's diverse population. The survey is a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the California Department of Health Services, and the Public Health Institute.
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research was established in 1994 and is one of the nation's leading health policy research centers. It is also the premier source of key health policy information for California. The Center is based in the UCLA School of Public Health and is affiliated with the UCLA School of Public Affairs.
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