Doctors aim
to control asthma
Asthma researchers believe the disease can be controlled, and they are working toward that goal across the state, they said at a recent meeting of the annual Hawaii Asthma Research Consortium at Tripler Army Medical Center.
About 50 researchers discussed projects under way to identify asthma and treat patients. Hosting the gathering was Col. (Dr.) Chuck Callahan, pediatric pulmonologist and chief of Tripler's Pediatric Department, who pointed out that nearly 10 percent of Hawaii's residents have asthma.
According to the Hawaii Health Survey, $40 million is spent annually for care of people with asthma, much of that for hospitalizations and emergency room visits, he said.
Asthma starts in childhood in most cases but is often unrecognized, Callahan said.
The Hawaii Health Survey found about 40,000 children have been diagnosed in Hawaii, with 46 percent of Hawaiian ancestry, he said.
Some new research is under way with leaders of the native Hawaiian community to address the situation, he said.
Asthmatic children cough with exercise or laughter, have difficulty breathing with colds or infection, or frequently visit the emergency room for bronchitis, yet the asthma may not be recognized or treated appropriately, researchers said.
"There are still many questions that need to be answered, but tremendous work is under way," Callahan said.
School and community screening programs were conducted by the state Health and Education departments, Partners Against Asthma and the Hawaii Lung Association.
Greg Kishaba, DOH asthma program coordinator, presented an overview of programs statewide to address the asthma problems.
Pediatric pulmonologists and the pediatric clinical pharmacist at Tripler presented data on the risk of smoking and an innovative trial on "In-Home Asthma Monitoring" using computers and the Internet.
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, working with the University of Hawaii Department of Pediatrics, described their work with native Hawaiians.
Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research and a Coalition of Emergency Rooms in Hawaii led by Dr. Rodney Boychuck, of Kapiolani, are working on projects funded by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant.
UH scientists presented data on their investigations of the role of volcanic gases, or "vog," on asthma in children.
Callahan said asthma research priorities include the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of asthma, "usually with inhaled medicines and the monitoring of asthma with patients, parents and children.
"In 2003, asthma can be controlled. No one with asthma should have to suffer today."