Differing reports of asthma symptoms in African Americans and Caucasians

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study explores the reported symptoms in African Americans and Caucasians with asthma.

Methods: Asthma patients in an inner-city pulmonary clinic were given a brief questionnaire of asthma symptoms and the BORG scale, followed by spirometry.

Results: African Americans were less likely to report nocturnal awakenings (67% vs. 100%; p = 0.037), complain of dyspnea (33% vs. 75%; p = 0.038), or experience chest pain (13% vs. 75%; p = 0.002) than Caucasians.

Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that there are clinically significant differences in the reporting of asthma symptoms between African Americans and Caucasians.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Percentage of symptoms reported by race

All values calculated as Fisher's exact test between the races by symptom. A p *.

FIGURE 2. Perception of bronchoconstriction

Neither ethnic group was able to estimate their degree of bronchoconstriction in vivo using the BORG scale immediately before spirometry was performed. Spearman's rs test used. Curves fit by linear regression.