Influence of family income on hospital visits for asthma among Canadian school children

Abstract
Background: A study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms by which socioeconomic status may influence asthma morbidity in Canada. Methods: A total of 2968 schoolchildren aged 5–19 years with reported asthma were divided into three family income ranges. Hospital visits and risk factors for asthma, ascertained by questionnaire, were compared between the three groups. Results: The mean (SE) annual period prevalence of a hospital visit was 25.0 (3.1)% among schoolchildren with household incomes of less than $20 000 Canadian compared with 16.0 (1.3)% among those with incomes of more than $60 000 (pConclusion: Socially disadvantaged Canadian schoolchildren have increased asthma morbidity. Exposure to cigarette smoke appears to be one important explanation for this observation.