Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Report Uncovers New and Missed Opportunities to Improve the Management of Asthma, Most Common Chronic Disease Among U.S. Children

Report Uncovers New and Missed Opportunities to Improve the Management of Asthma, Most Common Chronic Disease Among U.S. Children

Asthma, Health and Policy Thought Leaders Identify and Recommend Ways to Close the Gap Between Recommended and Actual Asthma Management.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 3, 2009 -- Many parents of the 9.6 million children who have been diagnosed with asthma in the United States may be surprised to learn that their child's asthma is not being managed in ways that meet standard medical guidelines developed more than fifteen years ago and updated in 2007. In fact, a report authored by asthma and policy experts that was released today found that two out of three children with moderate or severe asthma did not receive adequate or recommended treatment. Further, it shows that where children live is linked to how a child's asthma is managed.

"Let's be clear: we know the most effective methods to manage childhood asthma," said Dr. Floyd Malveaux, Executive Director of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (http://www.mcanonline.org) (MCAN) and former Dean of the College of Medicine at Howard University. "Our challenge is to communicate and implement these methods across the nation for every child, wherever he or she might live."

"Too many parents are watching their children - especially those families living in African American, Hispanic and poor neighborhoods - suffer needlessly from asthma because of improper or non-existent management of their condition," said Dr. Malveaux.

"The State of Childhood Asthma (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/vol123/Supplement_3/)," a supplement to the March edition of The Journal of Pediatrics, features articles from a cross-disciplinary field of experts in children's health, asthma and public policy. Among its most important findings:

-In 2007, a historically-high number of children - nearly one in every ten children in the United States - had asthma. While consensus guidelines to promote science-based and appropriate management have been in place since 1991, childhood asthma rates have not uniformly improved.

-Racial/ethnic disparities are found in asthma prevalence, with minority and medically underserved children shouldering both a disproportionate burden of the disease and, in the case of African American children, a continuing increase in asthma mortality rates. For example:

•    Children of racial minorities admitted for asthma attacks were less likely than white children to have taken anti-inflammatory medications and to be prescribed a nebulizer for home use at discharge.

-Living in communities near a major highway or Interstate dramatically increases the incidence of new cases of asthma, level of asthma symptoms, the frequency of visits to hospital emergency rooms and hospitalizations.

•    If air pollution levels were reduced to match levels in the cleanest communities, annual asthma-related school absences would drop by two-thirds and new cases of asthma would decrease by 75 percent.

Dr. Malveaux and MCAN brought these thought leaders together not only to examine the barriers to improving asthma management, but also to highlight evidence-based programs and policies that have been proven to work. Articles stressed that the most successful management methods were ones that considered the many factors that lead to and tend to complicate asthma among children. Home-based interventions and school-based clinics, for example, were found to be particularly effective in limiting hospital visits, reducing symptoms and improving quality of life for children with asthma.

"Asthma continues to present a major burden for children and their families, a challenge to policymakers, public health organizations, and health care providers and a puzzle for researchers searching for its primary causes," said Sara Rosenbaum, supplement author and Chair of the Department of Health Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. "While asthma currently is not curable, it is manageable when children and their families have access to and utilize quality health care services."

To view the full supplement, visit The Journal of Pediatrics online (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/vol123/Supplement_3/).

About MCAN

The Merck Childhood Asthma Network (MCAN) is a separately incorporated, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization established to address the complex and growing problem of pediatric asthma. MCAN is funded by the Merck Company Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck & Co., Inc. Led by Floyd Malveaux, MD, PhD, a nationally recognized expert in asthma and allergic diseases and former Dean of the Howard University College of Medicine, MCAN is specifically focused on enhancing access to quality asthma care and management for children in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mcanonline.org.

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Contact Information Danielle DeForge

Merck Childhood Asthma Network

http://www.mcanonline.org/

202.609.6011



Shopping for a Vacuum Cleaner? Know What You're Buying! Internet Site and Rating System Can Help

Shopping for a Vacuum Cleaner? Know What You're Buying! Internet Site and Rating System Can Help

The Housekeeping Channel (http://www.housekeepingchannel.com) releases the first in a series of residential vacuum cleaner reviews conducted in collaboration with The Carpet and Rug Institute (http://www.carpet-rug.org).

Boise, Idaho (Vocus) March 3, 2009 -- Before spending hundreds of dollars on one of the many high performance vacuum cleaners that proliferate the market, savvy shoppers turn to the Internet to research their choices.

In an effort to provide consumers the information they need to make wise purchasing decisions, The Housekeeping Channel (HC) is rolling out the first in a series of vacuum cleaner reviews produced in collaboration with The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

"This step is part of our effort to continually improve our reviews and content," says Allen Rathey, president and founder of The Housekeeping Channel, "and part of CRI's effort to help consumers clean and maintain their carpets better."

Its first participant, the Oreck XL Platinum Upright, was found to be a top performer with a score of 9.4.

It earned a Gold designation in CRI's Seal of Approval program, which is based on scientific laboratory testing for soil removal, indoor air quality impact, and carpet wear. Housekeeping Channel field testers gave the vacuum cleaner high marks based on usability factors important to the home consumer.

"The reviews combine the CRI Gold, Silver or Bronze Seal of Approval rating criteria with our assessment for an overall score," explains Rathey.

According to the review, the Oreck XL Platinum Upright is a good choice for consumers who are looking for an American-made lightweight vacuum cleaner with excellent cleaning ability. At 9 lbs., the Oreck is suitable for most users, and especially people with two-story homes or those with physical limitations. Its light weight is due, in part, to the absence of onboard tools, which Oreck addresses by including a separate handheld canister vacuum with attachments, which field testers say works very well.

Other conclusions reached by reviewers:

•    Quiet operation, even at high speed setting

•    Excellent soil and pet hair removal

•    Excellent dust containment and virtually dust-free bag changes

•    Ergonomic handle

To see the full review, visit http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/r_146-Oreck_XL_Platinum_Upright_Vacuum

About The Housekeeping Channel

The Housekeeping Channel (www.housekeepingchannel.com) (HC) strives to be the Web's most comprehensive storehouse of factual information for consumers and media on achieving a cleaner, more organized and healthier indoor environment. The site provides how-to tutorials, news and reviews regarding the latest innovations in the cleaning industry, time-saving systems and motivation for keeping a better house. HC is a respected source of information relevant to cleaner, healthier homes, and has been cited or quoted by national media including US News and World Report, Newsweek, Real Simple and major news outlets. HC's Advisory Board helps ensure the technical accuracy of its content (See: http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/aboutus.php).

About The Carpet and Rug Institute

CRI is a non-profit trade association representing the manufacturers of more than 95 percent of all carpet made in the United States, as well as their suppliers and service providers. It conducts primary research, gathers data from other sources, and distributes informational materials on a variety of subjects related to carpets and rugs. CRI is a source of science-based, factual carpet information for consumers, writers, interior designers, specifiers, facility managers, architects, builders, building owners and managers, installation contractors and retailers.

Media Contact:

Allen Rathey, 208-938-3137

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Contact Information Allen Rathey

The Housekeeping Channel

http://www.housekeepingchannel.com

208-938-3137