Asthma Phenotypes in the Inner City

Inclusion Criteria

• •Are male or female ages 6-17 years, inclusive, at recruitment;
• •Have a physician diagnosis of asthma;
• •Have had ≥ 2 episodes of short-acting beta-agonist administration within the past 12 months, exclusive of use associated with exercise-induced symptoms;
• •Have a primary place of residence located in one of the pre-selected recruitment census tracts as defined in the APIC Manual of Operations;
• •Meet pretreatment eligibility requirements for study enrollment (acceptable medical history and physical examination results);
• •Have a parent or legal guardian who is willing to sign the written Informed Consent prior to initiation of any study procedure;
• •Are willing to sign the assent form, if age appropriate;
• •Have medical insurance at the Screening Visit. Coverage must be in effect from Screening through Enrollment in order to be enrolled.
• •Have had ≥ 2 life-threatening asthma exacerbations in the last 2 years requiring intubation or mechanical ventilation, or resulting in a hypoxic seizure;
• •Are pregnant or lactating. (Females of child-bearing potential must remain abstinent or use a medically acceptable birth control method (e.g. oral, subcutaneous, mechanical, or surgical contraception) throughout the study. This is not for safety, but because it may be difficult to assess asthma control since lung function may change, making it difficult to interpret outcome measures);
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