Community-Based Approach to Assess Obstructive Respiratory Diseases and Risk in Urban African American Churches

Authors

Lorriane A Odhiambo
Ezinne Anaba
Peggy C Stephens
Vinay K Cheruvu
Melissa D Zullo

Publication Date

4-1-2023

Journal

Journal of Immigrant Minority Health

Abstract

Asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant health problems that have disparate effects on many Americans. Misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis are common and lead to ineffective treatment and management. This study assessed the feasibility of applying a two-step case-finding technique to identify both COPD and adult asthma cases in urban African American churches. We established a community-based partnership, administered a cross-sectional survey in step one of the case-finding technique and performed spirometry testing in step two. A total of 219 surveys were completed. Provider-diagnosed asthma and COPD were reported in 26% (50/193) and 9.6% (18/187) of the sample. Probable asthma (13.9%), probable COPD (23.1%), and COPD high-risk groups (31.9%) were reported. It is feasible to establish active case-finding within the African American church community using a two-step approach to successfully identify adult asthma and COPD probable cases for early detection and treatment to reduce disparate respiratory health outcomes.

Keywords

African Americans, Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Community-based partnerships, Two-step case-finding technique

Comments

Supplementary Materials

PMID: 36307622