METHODS: Participants were recruited from Clairton Elementary School. Asthma prevalence and control were assessed using a validated survey. Assessed risk factors included demographics, socioeconomic status, BMI, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure (salivary cotinine levels), and OAP exposure (mobile PM2.5 sampling platform).
RESULTS: 213 subjects enrolled (mean ±STD age was 7.6±1.7 years; 49% male). 63% were African American, and 12.0% were other minorities. 92% had public health insurance. The prevalence of physician diagnosed asthma was 18.4% and 64.1% had uncontrolled disease. Obesity was noted in 25.1%, and ETS was measured in 51.7%. Greater than 60% had PM2.5 exposure >12.0 ug/m3, the CDC threshold to reduce premature mortality. Those residing in the prevailing wind path and closest to the coke works facility had significant increases in OAP exposure (p<0.001 for both).
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of childhood asthma and poor disease control are elevated in Clairton. This community also has high rates of racial and socioeconomic disparities, as well as elevated exposures to a variety of asthma risk factors including obesity, ETS and OAP. Future efforts need to focus on reducing exposure to risk factors and improving asthma outcomes in this disparate population.