Adult asthma prevalence and trend analysis by urban–rural status across sociodemographic characteristics—United States, 2012-20

• Published in: The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 100085
• Main Authors: Qin, Xiaoting, Pate, Cynthia A., Zahran, Hatice S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-05-2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Asthma prevalence; sociodemographic characteristics; trend; urban-rural status; US adult; US adult; PR; FPL; trend; sociodemographic characteristics; Asthma prevalence; MSA; urban-rural status; BRFSS
• ISSN: 2772-8293; 2772-8293
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100085

Asthma prevalence estimates among adults are limited for urban–rural classification across sociodemographic characteristics.
This study examined current asthma prevalence and annual trends by 6-level urban–rural categories across sociodemographic characteristics among US adults.
Asthma prevalence for 2020 and annual trends for 2012-20 were estimated using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. The 2013 National Center for Health Statistics urban and rural categories were used to define urban–rural status.
Current asthma prevalence was higher in medium (9.7%; prevalence ratio 1.103 [95% CI 1.037, 1.174]) and small (9.9%; 1.111 [1.031, 1.197]) metro than in large fringe metropolitan (8.6%), was higher in micropolitan (10.2%) than in both large fringe (8.6%; 1.115 [1.042, 1.194]) and large central metropolitan (8.8%; 1.080 [1.001, 1.066]) areas. Prevalence by sociodemographic characteristics varied between urban–rural scheme; the prevalence was significantly higher among adults aged 55-64 years in micropolitan (11.9%), women in small metro (12.8%), and other race non-Hispanic in noncore (most rural) (13.6%) areas, adults without a high school diploma in micropolitan areas (13.8%), household income <100% of federal poverty level in micropolitan areas (15.7%), and adults with insurance coverage in micropolitan areas (10.3%) compared to the corresponding populations in other urban–rural categories. During 2012-20, an increasing trend in prevalence was observed only in medium metro areas, with an annual percentage change of 0.81.
Asthma prevalence differed by 6-level urban–rural categories. These findings might be helpful in establishing effective asthma control programs and targeting resource allocation at the local level.