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.
Highlights
The co-occurrence of multiple health conditions in the same individual, known as multimorbidity, has become a priority for global health [1]
We used a cross-sectional design with data on adults from the following racial/ethnic groups: Asian Indians, Chinese, and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs)
Our study findings suggest suggest that public health programs, research, and practice need to consider epidemiologic that public health programs, research, and practice need to consider epidemiologic characteristics, characteristics, including race/ethnicity, to reduce the risk of multimorbidity and in its management
Summary
The co-occurrence of multiple health conditions in the same individual, known as multimorbidity, has become a priority for global health [1]. Systematic reviews, and meta-analyses [2] have documented the prevalence of multimorbidity in both young and older adults and reported substantial adverse clinical, humanistic, and economic burden. The global burden of multimorbidity is well-established [3]. A systematic review has concluded that multimorbidity is highly prevalent [16]. Epidemiologic data suggest differences in multimorbidity prevalence rates by age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status [18,19,20,21,22]. Racial minorities, and those with low socioeconomic status are at high risk for multimorbidity [23,24,25]
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