Immigration and acculturation in relation to health and health-related risk factors among specific Asian subgroups in a health maintenance organization.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine how risk factors for disease vary among Asian subgroups.


METHODS
Using data from a case-control study conducted at Northern California Kaiser Medical Centers (from 1996 to 2001), we compared prevalence of selected risk factors among Asian subgroups and evaluated the associations of these risk factors with sociodemographic factors.


RESULTS
Chinese and Japanese patients had a lower body mass index (kg/m(2)) than did other Asians. In all subgroups, being born in the United States was associated with having a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m(2). Compared with other Asians, more Japanese and multiple-race Asians smoked, and more Filipino and multiple-race Asian smokers started smoking at 18 years or younger. Filipinos and multiple-race Asians also were more likely to report diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the importance of efforts to distinguish among Asian subgroups in public health practice and research.
Gomez
Scarlett L
SL
Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. scarlett@nccc.org
Kelsey
Jennifer L
JL
Glaser
Sally L
SL
Lee
Marion M
MM
Sidney
Stephen
S
D000069:Acculturation; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology