Asthma control in children, socioeconomic inequality and health care.
An Pediatr (Barc) 2023;
98:353-361. [PMID:
37055301 DOI:
10.1016/j.anpede.2022.12.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Socioeconomic inequality (SEI) can adversely affect asthma control. The aim of this study was to establish the association of SEI with asthma control in children and caregiver quality of life.
METHODS
We assessed socioeconomic status based on the area of residence, according to the at risk of poverty rate (ARPR). After stratifying the paediatric population of Castilla y León (Spain) in ARPR tertiles, we selected participants by stratified random sampling, and identified children with asthma aged 6-14 years from the health records of primary care centres. We collected data through questionnaires completed by parents. The primary outcomes were asthma control and caregiver quality of life. We assessed their association with SEI, health care quality measures and individual factors (such as parental educational attainment) by means of multivariate regression models.
RESULT
The ARPR tertile was not associated with asthma control, quality of life or health care quality. A medium or high maternal educational attainment was associated with a lower risk of making an unscheduled or urgent visit (OR = .50; 95% CI, .27-.95; P = .034) and paternal educational attainment was associated with a lower risk of uncontrolled asthma (OR = 0.51; 95% CI, .28-.94; P = .030).
CONCLUSION
In the sample under study, SEI assessed at the local level was not associated with asthma control in children. Other factors, such as parental educational attainment, may have a protective effect.
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