Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults with asthma are significantly less likely to use key controller inhalers compared to white adults, a decade-long JAMA study finds. Socioeconomic factors and healthcare access gaps appear to be the main culprits. Meanwhile, Black adults showed the highest reliance on short-acting rescue inhalers — a sign of undertreated asthma.
A new study published in JAMA reveals striking racial and ethnic disparities in asthma inhaler use across the U.S. Analyzing data from over 10,500 adults between 2014 and 2023, researchers found that Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults were consistently less likely to use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) compared to white adults — all cornerstone therapies for asthma management.
The disparities were largely — but not entirely — explained by socioeconomic factors like income, education, insurance status, and access to specialty care. Even after full adjustment, Asian adults still had significantly lower probabilities of ICS and LABA use vs. white adults. Notably, Black adults had the highest reliance on short-acting rescue inhalers (SABAs), suggesting widespread undertreatment in this group.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: These findings highlight a pharmacoequity gap in asthma care — where race and ethnicity, shaped by systemic inequities, continue to influence who receives effective treatment. Addressing these disparities will require tackling the underlying social determinants of health, not just prescribing patterns.
