Prevalence of Multimorbidity among Asian Indian, Chinese, and Non-Hispanic White Adults in the United States

Yifan Zhang, Ranjita Misra and Usha Sambamoorthi
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Yifan Zhang: Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Ranjita Misra: Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Usha Sambamoorthi: Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Asian Americans are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States, yet little is known about their multimorbidity. This study examined the association of Asian Indians, Chinese and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) to multimorbidity, defined as the concurrent presence of two or more chronic conditions in the same individual. We used a cross-sectional design with data from the National Health Interview Survey (2012–2017) of Asian Indians, Chinese, and NHWs ( N = 132,666). Logistic regressions were used to examine the adjusted association of race/ethnicity to multimorbidity. There were 1.9% Asian Indians, 1.8% Chinese, and 96.3% NHWs. In unadjusted analyses ( p < 0.001), 17.1% Asian Indians, 17.9% Chinese, and 39.0% NHWs had multimorbidity. Among the dyads, high cholesterol and hypertension were the most common combination of chronic conditions among Asian Indians (32.4%), Chinese (41.0%), and NHWs (20.6%). Asian Indians (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI = (0.61, 0.89)) and Chinese (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = (0.53, 0.75)) were less likely to have multimorbidity compared to NHWs, after controlling for age, sex, and other risk factors. However, Asian Indians and Chinese were more likely to have high cholesterol and hypertension, risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Keywords: multimorbidity; multiple chronic conditions; population-based; National Health Interview Survey; racial disparity; Asian Indians; Chinese; non-Hispanic white (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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