Leveraging genetic ancestry to study severe asthma exacerbations in an admixed population

Asthma is a major non-communicable health problem in the USA among school age children. About 5%–10% of all people with asthma have severe asthma exacerbations, resulting in disproportionate healthcare costs (eg, emergency hospital visit, hospitalisation) and serving as the primary cause of higher mortality due to asthma.1–3 The burden of asthma varies across racial or ethnic groups in the USA. In particular, Puerto Rican and African American children have a greater prevalence of morbidity and mortality from asthma than non-Hispanic white children in the USA.4 Research shows that much of this racial disparity is likely due to structural racism causing differences in socioeconomic status and other socioenvironmental risk factors.5 In addition, the genetic loci that exhibited ancestry-specific effects could contribute to disease risk substantially.6 Admixed populations, including African Americans and Hispanic Americans (eg, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans),...
Source: Thorax - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research