American Lung Association Examines Ongoing Disparities Driven by Socioeconomic and Genetic Factors
United States of America (Press Release) August 29, 2007 --
Diverse Communities throughout the United States continue to be disproportionately affected by specific lung diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and/or have more risk factors such as genetic predisposition, poor living conditions, and unequal access to healthcare and medications, according to the American Lung Association State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities 2007 report, found online at http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=308853.
“One alarming trend we see reflected in our research is that diverse communities are especially vulnerable to asthma and other breathing problems linked to both indoor and outdoor air pollution because many of these diverse groups often reside in high pollution areas,” said Dr. Norman Edelman, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association.
“This publication serves as a call to action to legislators and community leaders to fight for stricter air pollution standards,” says Dr. Hugo Alvarez, Deputy Medical Officer and UM/QI Associate Medical Director for Access Community Health Network . “The disparities in lung health continue to drive the American Lung Association’s ongoing work to educate these communities about lung disease, invest in research and advocate for increased access to quality health care for all.”
The American Lung Association State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities 2007, which presents analyses of data from various surveys and reports across many ethnic and racial groups, illustrates African Americans’ particular vulnerability to lung cancer, COPD, sleep disorders, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. While the spikes in some disease rates may be linked to cigarette smoking and occupational exposures, other findings shed light on genetic and socioeconomic factors. African Americans are less likely to develop or die from COPD, yet they have more emergency room visits and similar disease severity compared to whites who have smoked cigarettes over a longer period of time and are heavier smokers.
“The American Lung Association prides itself on being the most powerful enemy of lung disease that we can be, particularly for vulnerable individuals,” says Dr. Leroy Graham, Partner with the Georgia Pediatric Pulmonology Associates. “Part of that fight involves taking a hard look at who is most affected by lung diseases, and creating stronger connections with diverse populations so that our education, advocacy and research are as effective as possible.”
“One alarming trend we see reflected in our research is that diverse communities are especially vulnerable to asthma and other breathing problems linked to both indoor and outdoor air pollution because many of these diverse groups often reside in high pollution areas,” said Dr. Norman Edelman, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association.
“This publication serves as a call to action to legislators and community leaders to fight for stricter air pollution standards,” says Dr. Hugo Alvarez, Deputy Medical Officer and UM/QI Associate Medical Director for Access Community Health Network . “The disparities in lung health continue to drive the American Lung Association’s ongoing work to educate these communities about lung disease, invest in research and advocate for increased access to quality health care for all.”
The American Lung Association State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities 2007, which presents analyses of data from various surveys and reports across many ethnic and racial groups, illustrates African Americans’ particular vulnerability to lung cancer, COPD, sleep disorders, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. While the spikes in some disease rates may be linked to cigarette smoking and occupational exposures, other findings shed light on genetic and socioeconomic factors. African Americans are less likely to develop or die from COPD, yet they have more emergency room visits and similar disease severity compared to whites who have smoked cigarettes over a longer period of time and are heavier smokers.
“The American Lung Association prides itself on being the most powerful enemy of lung disease that we can be, particularly for vulnerable individuals,” says Dr. Leroy Graham, Partner with the Georgia Pediatric Pulmonology Associates. “Part of that fight involves taking a hard look at who is most affected by lung diseases, and creating stronger connections with diverse populations so that our education, advocacy and research are as effective as possible.”
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