This study investigated racial disparities in asthma management and outcomes in a managed care organisation that provided uniform access to health care services. It prospectively studied 678 patients and interviewed after discharge all patients who had been hospitalised for asthma. Patients were followed-up for subsequent emergency room visits and hospitalisations during a median follow-up of 1.9 years. Black patients had almost double the risk of emergency room visits (hazard ratio 1.93) and hospitalisations (HR 1.89) compared with White patients. The differences persisted after adjustment for socioeconomic status and differences in asthma therapy. Because all patients had uniform access to care, the authors said the findings support the potential for genetic differences related to asthma.
