A recent study by Komodo Health has revealed significant racial and socioeconomic disparities among children experiencing asthma emergencies due to wildfire smoke. The research, focusing on the 2018 Northern California wildfire, found that during the 14-day smoke wave, pediatric asthma exacerbations increased by 76% and asthma-related emergency department visits rose by 27%.
Hispanic/Latino children were the most severely impacted, with a 95% increase in asthma exacerbations. Asian American and Pacific Islander children saw a 75% increase, while Black/African American and white children experienced 63% and 55% increases, respectively.
The study also highlighted socioeconomic factors contributing to these disparities, with children in areas of less home ownership, lower education, and greater poverty facing higher risks of asthma-related emergency department visits.
Dr. Marc Carmichael, clinical advisor at Komodo Health, emphasized the need for further research to understand the causes behind these racial disparities. He suggested exploring issues such as access to care and the availability of multilingual patient education resources for vulnerable communities.
The findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and resource allocation to protect vulnerable populations during wildfire events. Carmichael recommended that healthcare providers include information on managing asthma exacerbations during wildfire smoke waves in patients’ asthma action plans.
He also stressed the need for community outreach and multilingual resources to educate at-risk populations about the health risks associated with wildfire smoke and preventive measures.
As climate change threatens to increase exposure to wildfire smoke, these insights are crucial for developing policies and infrastructure to mitigate the disproportionate impact on minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
See “Disparities found in children experiencing asthma emergencies from wildfire smoke” (September 4, 2024)
