2. Abstract
The following is brief study and data analysis related to asthma and the children who are being
affected by this often preventable disease. The question is asked if, in a comparison of
individuals’ ages 0-17, those children who are non-white will be more likely to have asthma than
those who are white. Health related data available via the US Census Bureau and SPARCS data
from New York State Department of Health serve as a sources for analysis.
Introduction and Motivation
In the interest of learning more about administering analysis on health related data, I choose a
data set available via US Census Bureau; relating to Asthma cases in the United States. As a
Health Services Administration student this allows me to explore an area of interest to me; the
health of children in the US. The New York State Department of Health has an established task
force, The New York State Toxic Mold Task Force that is focused on exposure to mold in New
York State Housing. It is believed that “Exposure to building dampness and dampness-related
agents, including mold, is nationally recognized as a potential public health problem, with
evidence linking indoor mold exposures with upper and lower respiratory health effects, such as
nasal symptoms and exacerbation of asthma.”(Task Force Press Release) This brief study looks
at children with asthma, especially minorities and those living with disparities that would have
an effect on their health, wellbeing and potentially their future.
Literature Review
In the study, “Homes of low-income minority families with asthmatic children have increased
condition issues” the information concluded that, though the study had some limitations, family
homes in poor low income housing are “increasingly associated with asthma.”(Pacheco)
3. Another study “The Association between Parental Perception of Neighborhood Safety and
Asthma Diagnosis in Ethnic Minority Urban Children” included children living in New
York City, 6-8 years old and their families. The study spoke to parents safety concerns
with walking and exercising in their neighborhoods and this study concluded that “Low-
income populations, minorities, and children living in inner cities have high rates of
asthma….that “may require interventions to decrease urban stressors.”(Vangeepuram)
ResearchHypothesis
I submit the following as my research Hypothesis:
In a comparison of individuals, ages 0-17, those children who are non-white will be more likely
to have asthma than those who are white.
Data Description and Methodology
Health related data available from the US Census Bureau and SPARCS data from New York
State Department of Health serve as a sources for analysis. Hospitalization instances will be
graphed by year.
The following is a simple list via Stata of the races that are included in the study:
Race
Race
1. White
2. Black or African American
3. Asian
4. Black or African American and White
5. Hispanic or Latino
6. Mexican or Mexican American
7. Not Hispanic or Latino
4. 8. White, single race
9. Black or African American, single race
Native American and Hawaiian Pacific Islander children were not included in this study as not
enough data was available to the population to make a statistically correct determination. This
indication was made by the US Census Bureau in 2012 regarding this particular list.
Empirical analysis
Hospitalizations by children 0-17 years of age, related to Asthma in Albany County, NY by Year
Indicator Name | Freq. Percent Cum.
----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------
Asthma hospitalization rate per 10,000 | 10 100.00 100.00
----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 10 100.00
| Summary of Trend Data County Value Asthma Related Hospitalizations
Date Year | Mean Std. Dev. Freq.
------------+------------------------------------
2003 | 18.5 0 1
2004 | 20.4 0 1
2005 | 19.4 0 1
2006 | 17.4 0 1
5. 2007 | 17 0 1
2008 | 14.5 0 1
2009 | 21.5 0 1
2010 | 12.9 0 1
2011 | 15.6 0 1
2012 | 15.2 0 1
------------+------------------------------------
Total | 17.24 2.7419376 10
Asthma Hospitalizations for Children 0-17 Years in Albany County, NY
Public Access SPARCS Data that is being utilized in this analysis:
IndicatorName Date Year
TrendData
CountyValue
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2003 18.5
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2004 20.4
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2005 19.4
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2006 17.4
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2007 17
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2008 14.5
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2009 21.5
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2010 12.9
Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2011 15.6
6. Asthmahospitalizationrate per
10,000 - Aged0-17 years 2012 15.2121416182022
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Date Year
Source: NYS DOH SPARCS Data
by Year
Albany County Hospitalizations Per 10,000
05
101520
..Asian
..Black
orAfrican
Am
erican
..Black
orAfrican
Am
erican
and
W
hite
..Black
orAfrican
Am
erican,single
race
..M
exican
orM
exican
Am
erican
..W
hite
..W
hite,single
race
H
ispanic
orLatino
N
otH
ispanic
orLatino
Source: US Censes 2010 Health Data
by Race
Percent Child 0-17 Has Asthma
7. Cross Tabulation
bysort race: tab hasasthma
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..Asian
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
232 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..Black or African American
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
1893 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..Black or African American and White
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
182 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..Black or African American, single race
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
1788 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..Mexican or Mexican American
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
757 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
8. Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..White
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
4544 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = ..White, single race
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
3473 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = Hispanic or Latino
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
1276 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> race = Not Hispanic or Latino
Has Asthma | Freq. Percent Cum.
------------+-----------------------------------
5835 | 1 100.00 100.00
------------+-----------------------------------
Total | 1 100.00
Results
The hypothesis is supported in that the dependent variable, the effect that receives the stimulus,
is a higher percentage for black or African Americans. The independent variable, the cause or in
this case Race, has white and Mexican American’s as having the least amount of cases of
children with asthma.
9. Discussion
In that many black or African American children live in poverty, one could conclude that with a
higher percentage of these children having higher percentages of asthma that poverty and
increased illness correlate. Based on statistics for Albany County, with a high population of
urban citizens, one could also relate increased hospitalizations with urban living. This is all very
preliminary and a great deal more research should be conducted in this area of study.
Sources
CommunityHealth:Albany CountyAsthma Hospitalization Rateper10,000. New York State Department
of Health,n.d.Web.18 Oct. 2015. <https://health.data.ny.gov/Health/Community-Health-Albany-
County-Asthma-Hospitalizat/t82i-qtkx>.
Pacheco, Christina M., et al. "Homes of low-income minority families with asthmatic children have
increased condition issues." Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. Vol. 35. No. 6. OceanSide Publications,
2014.
"Task Force Issues Preliminary Recommendation for Preventing Mold Problems in Buildings."
Task Force Issues Preliminary Recommendation for Preventing Mold Problems in Buildings.
N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2015. <http://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2010/2010-08-
25_toxic_mold_report.htm>.
United States. US Census Bureau. US Department of Commerce. Section 3. Health and
Nutrition. US Census Bureau, July 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.census.gov/library/publications/2011/compendia/statab/131ed/health-
nutrition.html>.
10. Vangeepuram, N., et al. "The association between parental perception of neighborhood safety and
asthma diagnosis in ethnic minority urban children.” Journal of Urban Health 89.5 (2012): 758-768.
