New findings presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting show chronic conditions are increasing among U.S. children, particularly those who live in or near poverty.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Survey of Children's Health for 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2012 to spot trends surrounding asthma, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by sociodemographic characteristics in the United States.
The study revealed disproportionate increases in asthma and ADHD for children living in poverty compared to wealthier children. Poor children with either of these conditions were also at a higher risk of having two or more additional conditions, such as developmental delays, autism, depression or anxiety, behavioral or conduct issues, speech and language problems, epilepsy/seizure disorders and learning disabilities.
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