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Tree cover, health care access, Sociome Data Commons, and pediatric asthma: Chicago, 2010-2019
  • +15
  • Sandra Tilmon,
  • Shashi Bellam,
  • Kathy Bobay,
  • Ellen Cohen,
  • Emily Dillon,
  • Brian Furner,
  • Sarah E. Gray,
  • Julie Johnson,
  • David Meltzer,
  • Doriane Miller,
  • Sharmilee Nyenhuis,
  • Jonathan Ozik,
  • Carlos Santos,
  • Anthony Solomonides,
  • Julian Solway,
  • Elizabeth Zampino,
  • Sanjaya Krishnan,
  • Samuel L. Volchenboum
Sandra Tilmon
The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Shashi Bellam
NorthShore Medical Group
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Kathy Bobay
Loyola University Chicago
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Ellen Cohen
The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics
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Emily Dillon
Carroll University
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Brian Furner
The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics
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Sarah E. Gray
The University of Chicago Medicine
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Julie Johnson
The University of Chicago
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David Meltzer
The University of Chicago Medicine
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Doriane Miller
The University of Chicago Medicine
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Sharmilee Nyenhuis
The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics
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Jonathan Ozik
Argonne National Laboratory Division of Decision and Information Sciences
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Carlos Santos
Rush University Medical Center
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Anthony Solomonides
NorthShore Medical Group
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Julian Solway
The University of Chicago Medicine
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Elizabeth Zampino
The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics
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Sanjaya Krishnan
The University of Chicago Department of Computer Science
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Samuel L. Volchenboum
The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics
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Abstract

Background Pediatric asthma exacerbations remain a critical public health concern, particularly in historically underserved urban settings. In Chicago, non-Hispanic Black children 5-19 years old had 2.5 times the emergency visits for asthma as non-Hispanic White children. Objective This study investigates sociome factors – the social context of disease – associated with asthma exacerbations among children living in Chicago’s South Side, leveraging clinical and census tract-level datasets. The aim is to uncover novel influences for potential new interventions. Methods A generalized linear model assessed associations while accounting for clustering at the patient level. Results Predictors of decreased risk included patient age (+4.8 years, -22%), tree crown density (+6% coverage, -17%), parks per acre (+0.41, -8%), and labor market engagement (+0.8 points, -9%). Conversely, predictors or increased risk included increased distance to the nearest pharmacy (+0.28 miles, +12%), limited English skills (+2.3%, +10%), higher inequality (+0.08 points, +8%), and visits in the Spring (+11%) and Fall (+20%). Conclusion The results suggest that tree crown density, a novel finding in the context of asthma exacerbations, may play a protective role. Limited access to health care facilities such as pharmacies continues to complicate care. However, the complexity of neighborhood-level influences require broader geographic sampling; limitations include the study’s restricted geographic and demographic scope. Integrating data from multiple hospitals will be essential for replicating these findings and translating them into actionable strategies for improving pediatric asthma care.
12 Jan 2025Submitted to Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
20 Jan 2025Submission Checks Completed
20 Jan 2025Assigned to Editor
20 Jan 2025Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Jan 2025Reviewer(s) Assigned