Rationale: Risk of asthma hospitalization and its disparities associated with air pollutant
exposures are less clear within socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, particularly
at low degrees of exposure. Objectives: To assess effects of short-term exposures to fine
particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of⩽ 2.5 μm [PM2. 5]),
warm-season ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on risk of asthma hospitalization
among national Medicaid beneficiaries, the most disadvantaged population in the United …

METHODS: Patient demographics, zip code of residence, and admission date were
collected from the claims. Variables tied to each zip code, including estimated daily PM 2.5,
8 hour-warm season O 3, and 1 hour NO 2 over a 7 day moving average exposure at least 1
week before each hospitalization, daily surface air temperature, humidity, annual average
population density, annual averaged body mass index, percentage of smokers, average
distance to the nearest hospital, and national area deprivation index were obtained …