A new study reveals troubling disparities in asthma education and healthcare access among adolescents, with Asian youth and girls facing the steepest challenges. Despite asthma being the most common chronic illness in adolescents, only 8% of participants in the study reported receiving formal asthma education.
Among the 90 adolescents surveyed, Asian participants had the lowest asthma diagnosis rate—just 6.5% compared to 47.4% among peers from other racial groups. They were also significantly less likely to describe healthcare access as “extremely easy,” with an odds ratio of 0.179. While nearly all participants recognized asthma as a chronic condition, fewer Asian adolescents felt knowledgeable about it or could identify key symptoms and triggers.
Gender disparities also emerged. Although diagnosis rates were similar between boys and girls, males were significantly more likely to seek medical help for asthma symptoms. Only 30.2% of female participants said they were “extremely likely” to seek care, compared to 52.5% of males.
Barriers to care extended beyond insurance status. Even with high coverage rates, adolescents cited lack of awareness, fear, cost, and difficulty navigating the healthcare system as reasons for delaying treatment. The study calls for universal asthma education in schools and culturally tailored interventions to address the unique challenges faced by Asian adolescents and girls.
Without targeted efforts, these disparities may continue to fuel underdiagnosis and poor asthma outcomes in vulnerable communities.
See “Assessing Racial and Gender Disparities in Asthma Education, Knowledge, and Healthcare Access Among Adolescents” (July 2, 2025)