Emergency department visits among children with asthma: Racial/ethnic disparities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Emergency department (ED) visits for asthma among school-aged children create substantial healthcare burdens. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the longitudinal trends in asthma ED visits, focusing on the effects of sociodemographic factors (i.e., age, sex, and race/ethnicity) and pandemic influence among school-aged children before, during, and after the pandemic. Methods: We used a large, longitudinal, multisite data of 6,312 school-aged children from 2017 to 2022. Negative binomial regression was used for data analysis. Discussion: Stable patterns with higher ED visit rates in Hispanic and Black children were observed prior to the pandemic. During the pandemic, sharp declines in ED visits were observed across all groups, with Black and Hispanic children sustaining higher rates compared with White children. Conclusion: Higher rates of ED visits continued for Black and Hispanic children. Future interventions should focus on improving the effects of racial disparities and incorporating effective strategies for asthma management.