SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Impact of Biologic Therapies on Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Asthma-Related Emergency Care Visits: A Pre- And Post-2015 Nhanes Analysis

Impact of Biologic Therapies on Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Asthma-Related Emergency Care Visits: A Pre- And Post-2015 Nhanes Analysis

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This study examined whether the introduction of biologic therapies for asthma in 2015 reduced racial and socioeconomic disparities in asthma-related emergency care visits. Using NHANES data, researchers compared two periods: pre-biologics (2009–2014) and post-biologics (2015–2020), focusing on adults aged 18–64 with self-reported asthma. The main outcome was an emergency care visit for asthma in the past year, and the key predictors were race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES), measured by family income-to-poverty ratio.<br /><br />The findings showed that emergency care use declined overall after 2015, suggesting biologic therapies may have improved asthma management. However, disparities persisted. Before 2015, Non-Hispanic Black participants had the lowest survival probabilities, meaning they were most likely to have asthma-related emergency visits. Participants with lower SES also had significantly worse outcomes. After 2015, there was some improvement, particularly among Non-Hispanic Black participants, but racial gaps remained, with Non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American individuals still faring worse than Non-Hispanic Whites.<br /><br />SES disparities were even more pronounced in the post-2015 period. Individuals below the income-to-poverty threshold continued to have significantly lower probabilities of avoiding emergency care, indicating they remained at higher risk for asthma-related visits despite the availability of biologics.<br /><br />Overall, the study concludes that while biologic therapies appear to have reduced asthma-related emergency care utilization, they have not eliminated inequities. Racial minorities and lower-SES groups remain disproportionately affected, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve access to advanced asthma treatments and reduce socioeconomic barriers to care.

Asset Subtitle

Sagar Bathija

Meta Tag

Author List Adnan Bhat, Aman Ullah, Ayesha Bhat, Faiza Khalifa, Faizan Ahmed, Jaymin G. Patel, John N. George, John W. Merriman III, Kainat Aman, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Arshad, Mushood Ahmed, Naveen Baskaran, Nisar Asmi, Omar Kamel, Riley G. Jones, Sagar Ba

Category Research

Concept Biologic Therapy

Concept Asthma

Concept Emergent Care

Concept Asthma-Related Emergency Care Utilization

Concept Emergency Care Visit

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Lowell General Hospital

Presenting Author Sagar Bathija

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

asthma

biologic therapies

emergency care visits

racial disparities

socioeconomic status

NHANES

Non-Hispanic Black

Mexican American

income-to-poverty ratio

health inequities

Biologic Therapy

Asthma

Emergent Care

Asthma-Related Emergency Care Utilization

Emergency Care Visit