man asthma headacheAfrican ancestry was significantly associated with severe asthma attacks among African American males, according to study results presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, hosted last week in Anaheim, Calif. However, similar results were not seen among females.

These findings indicate that a portion of the risk of asthma exacerbations in this high-risk group is attributable to a genetic risk factor that partitions with ancestry, according to lead author Jennifer Rumpel, MD.