A new focus on assessing and treating asthma control in the African-American community: a call to action.

摘要: Asthma continues to be a highly prevalent disease characterized by significant morbidity, unnecessary mortality, and substantial cost the health care system. After decades of increasing prevalence, number current asthmatics in recent years has plateaued at approximately 22 million people United States. An additional 10 Americans have past history asthma that is not active. The burden higher among African than any other racial or ethnic group America. African-American community experience disproportional increase mortality. educational initiatives stemming from newly revised National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines provide opportunity address increased American community. These new guidelines, released August 2007, focus on control as primary goal therapy, routine monitoring control, use assessments direct treatment. present review discusses following: I. impact disparities outcomes with asthma, II. barriers prevent asthmatic patients achieving optimal III. unique factors challenge practitioners Community, IV. good need for clinicians assess standardized assessment tool, V. Strategic role End Attacks NOW program improving asthma.