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.

Keywords:

• symptoms
• African Americans
• asthma
• perception
• disparities