Home Environmental Factors Associated with Asthma Prevalence in Two Buffalo Inner-City Neighborhoods

To identify factors that may contribute to asthma morbidity, 214 households were surveyed in two Buffalo inner-city neighborhoods. Asthma was reported by 41 percent of households. Race, gender, and age of head of household were significantly associated with prevalence of asthma in a house. Caucasians and Latinos had a significantly higher rate of asthma compared with African Americans. All household triggers were significantly more likely to be present on the west than east side of Buffalo. Overall, smoking, pets, humidifier, and cockroaches were all significantly associated with asthma in the home. There was no significant difference in the treatment for asthma or the age or gender of asthmatics based on residential area. This study suggests that asthma prevalence in the inner city may be affected by multiple factors that must be taken account by policy makers and professionals designing interventions.