Role of food insecurity in prescription delay among adults with asthma: results from the California health interview survey

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity remains a major public health concern in the United States. Studies have noted that food insecurity can lead to lower healthcare utilization and poorer health status. Despite the continuous burden of asthma, little research has shown whether food insecurity serves as a social determinant to poor asthma care. In this study, we specifically focused on whether food insecurity can lead to delay in prescription medication for adults with asthma in California.

Methods: We utilized the California Health Interview Survey. Survey weighted descriptive, univariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. A total of 11,645 observations, representing an average annual population size of 1,085,481 was included in this study.

Results: Nearly 15% and 8% of participants were food insecure and had current asthma, respectively. Based on adjusted odds ratio, food insecure adults were 148% more likely to report delay in asthma prescription, as compared to those who were food secure (adjusted odds ratio =2.48; 95% CI: 1.58, 3.89).

Conclusions: Given the delay in prescription, and thus appropriate health care, demonstrated in our study, targeted measures at point of care should be implemented to identify such at-risk patients early and provide resources for food aid to ensure optimal health outcomes.

Keywords:

• Food insecurity
• healthcare delay
• asthma
• prescription

Acknowledgements

Dr. Becerra would like to acknowledge for the Centers for Health Equity for providing faculty support for collaborative research. Dr. Becerra would like to also thank the Institute for Child Development and Family Relations and Faculty Center for Excellence for supporting the publication of this paper with funded writing time.

Declaration of interest

There is none to declare for all authors.