This Majority-Black City Is the Asthma Capital of America

By Jennifer Porter Gore, Word in Black

Residents of 20 “Asthma Capitals” are more likely to visit the emergency room or die from the illness.

As asthma sufferers brace for the onset of fall allergy season, a nonprofit has ranked the 20 worst cities for the disease. And Detroit — one of a half-dozen cities with significant or majority-Black populations — tops the list. 

On Tuesday, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked the Motor City first on its annual list of “asthma capitals” across the country. The organization found that Detroit had the largest number of asthma cases that resulted in complications, including treatment in an emergency room. 

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 “As someone who lives with asthma and has dedicated my career to helping others manage this condition, [the AAFA report] is both eye-opening and heartbreaking,” says Dr. Renee Matthews, a physician and author. “Seeing my hometown of Detroit top the list underscores how deeply the environment, health care access, and socioeconomic factors affect people’s ability to breathe.”

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But studies show socioeconomic factors also play a role. Asthma prevalence and severe outcomes are strongly associated with living in areas with poor air quality and greater exposure to air pollutants. While Black asthma patients are more likely to experience asthma symptoms requiring urgent care, they are less likely than whites to have access to quality healthcare.

Keep reading. See the rankings.