SRFP052: Healthcare Utilization for Asthma Exacerbations among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Latino Children

Cassandra Kasten-Arias; Tahlia Hodes, MPH; Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman, PhD; Jennifer Lucas, PhD; Jorge Kaufmann, MS; Miguel Marino, PhD; John Heintzman, MD, MPH

Abstract

Context: Latino children are more likely to have low care quality, live in environments with known asthma triggers, and have more Emergency Department (ED) visits for asthma. Literature on children with asthma in migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) families is limited despite this population’s high risk for poor asthma outcomes due to medical access barriers. Primary care providers caring for this population can prevent poor asthma outcomes with a better understanding of the unique disparities these patients may face. Objective: Determine whether Latino MSFW children with asthma experience higher rates of ED visits, acute clinic visits, or hospitalizations for asthma exacerbations compared to Non-Hispanic White (NHW) children and whether these comparisons were similar for Latino children without migrant status. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study Dataset: Electronic health record (EHR) data from eight states in the Accelerating Data Value Across a National Community Health Center Network (ADVANCE) Clinical Research Network containing community health centers (CHC) where MSFW status was documented. ED and hospitalization data from Oregon Medicaid claims data. Population Studied: Latino and NHW children ages 3-17 with a primary care office visit between 01/01/2012 and 12/31/2017and asthma diagnosis in their ambulatory EHR. Once included, patient data was available as far as 2005 (N = 13,423). Excluded patients with cystic fibrosis. Main Outcome Measures: Odds Ratios (OR) and Rate Ratios (RR) of ED visits, acute clinic visits, and hospitalizations. Adjusted for age, sex, insurance, income, number of residential changes, and primary clinic visits per year. Results: Latino children were more likely to have ever had an acute clinic visit for asthma exacerbation compared to NHW children (MSFW OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.03-1.33, p= 0.016; without migrant status OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.23, p = 0.006). Latino MSFW children had a lower rate of ED visits and hospitalizations compared to NHW children (ED visit RR = 0.717, 95% CI 0.52-0.99, p = 0.044; hospitalizations RR = 0.471, 95% CI 0.26-0.86, p = 0.014). Conclusions: Latino children regardless of migrant status were more likely to visit a clinic for asthma exacerbations and Latino MSFW children had fewer ED visits and hospitalizations compared to NHW children. Further research should explore how CHCs may mitigate previously reported disparities in ED utilization and their safety-net role for MSFW patients.
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Jack Westfall
jwestfall@aafp.org 11/21/2021

Terrific project. Great poster and abstract. Thanks for sharing at NAPCRG

Diane Harper
harperdi@med.umich.edu 11/22/2021

Is this research funded by/ initiated by a CTSA? PCORnet seems to be connected to CTSA's across the US. Present your results in Phoenix next year! Thank you for sharing your work with NAPCRG!

William R. Phillips
wphllps@uw.edu 11/23/2021

Very interesting poster on an intriguing, counterintuitive finding. Diagnosis and management of childhood asthma appears to be a very complex phenomenon. How would one design a study to give more definitive evidence that the CHC car is responsible for the positive difference? New evidence suggest that children exposed to more potential allergens early in life have less frequent and less severe allergies. Could that phenomenon play a role in these populations? Thanks for sharing your work here at NAPCRG. - Bill Phillips

Andy Pasternak
avpiv711@sbcglobal.net 11/28/2021

Focusing on this study population is excellent. I'll be interested to hear more in the future

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