Rationale
Food and housing insecurities have been associated with poorer asthma control in children but research lacks in adults. This study assesses the frequency of food and housing insecurities and its association with asthma control in adults during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Methods
An online cross-sectional survey study was conducted in US adults with asthma as previously described. Survey questions included how worried or concerned participants were about food security and housing stability since the pandemic. Asthma control was assessed using the asthma control test (ACT) with uncontrolled asthma defined as ACT <20. Self-report of food and housing insecurity since the pandemic was assessed. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were performed. Food and housing insecurity variables were dichotomized into high insecurity (≥3) or low insecurity (<3).
Results
Participants (N=873) were 82.6% female, mean age 43.9±15.2 years old, and mean ACT 19.2±4.6. Almost a quarter of participants had high housing (26.6%) instability and 18.4% had high food insecurity. Participants with greater food insecurity were more likely to have uncontrolled asthma (74.53%) compared to those with lower food insecurity (35.53%; p<0.001). Similarly, those with greater housing insecurity were more likely to have uncontrolled asthma (64.63%) compared to participants with lower housing insecurity (34.84%; p<0.001).
Conclusions
Food and housing insecurity exist in adults with asthma and are associated with uncontrolled asthma. Providers should assess food and housing insecurity to mitigate poorer health outcomes in adults with asthma.
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