Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2026 May;37(5):e70350. doi: 10.1111/pai.70350.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Access to patient-centered medical homes (PCMH)-defined as having a primary care provider who provides comprehensive, family-centered care-is critical for children with asthma, which affects nearly 5 million children in the US. Management can be complex, and uncontrolled disease increases morbidity among children. Therefore, we examined rates and associations of PCMH status, asthma severity, and sociodemographic factors.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative dataset, to assess PCMH status among children with asthma and conducted design-based X2 tests to measure differences between groups based on asthma severity, parental factors, and other social determinants of health.
RESULTS: Among a sample of 3636 children with asthma, 41.5% met criteria for a PCMH. Significant associations were observed between PCMH access, asthma severity, and several sociodemographic variables (p < .001), except the child’s age. Only 19.0% of children with severe asthma ratings met PCMH criteria. In contrast, 45.1% of children with mild asthma met PCMH criteria. Parental education and PCMH access were positively correlated, and the highest rates of PCMH access were among children with two biological parents.
CONCLUSION: Our results showed that having access to a PCMH was associated with a decreased likelihood of severe asthma symptoms. Additionally, there are sociodemographic factors that significantly impact the likelihood of children with asthma meeting criteria for a PCMH. Given the scale of children with asthma not having comprehensive medical care, national and state policies are needed to enhance access to services.
PMID:42159992 | DOI:10.1111/pai.70350
