Health problems and hospitalizations among Asian-American ethnic groups.
OBJECTIVE
To study health status and hospitalization risk among Asian Americans.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analyses and cohort study.


METHODS
Comprehensive prepaid health care program in Northern California.


METHODS
Adult Asian Americans (N=13,592), self-classified at health examinations as 6050 (44.5%) Chinese, 1707 (12.6%) Japanese, 4232 (31.1%) Filipinos, 714 (5.3%) South Asians, and 889 (6.5%) Other Asians.


METHODS
None except data analysis.


METHODS
With Chinese and Whites (n=72,019) as referents, comparison of symptom composites by logistic regression and hospitalization risk by Cox proportional hazards models.


RESULTS
Compared to Chinese, Filipinos, South Asians, and other Asians more frequently reported coronary, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and emotional problems. Chinese and Japanese generally had the lowest hospitalization risk. Compared to Chinese, hospitalization risk was higher (P<.05) among Filipinos for circulatory (men or women), respiratory (men), and digestive (women) conditions (relative risks [RR] range from 1.5 to 1.7) and among South Asian men for cardiovascular conditions (RR=2.2). While Asian groups generally had similar or lower hospitalization risk than Whites, risks were higher for asthma (Filipino and South Asian men, RRs >3.0), peptic ulcer (Chinese men, Filipino men and women, other Asian women [RRs 1.9-5.6]), and coronary disease (South Asian men (RR=2.3) and Filipino women (RR=1.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Variations in risk of hospitalization and frequency of reported health problems point out differences in health problems and health needs among subgroups of Asian Americans. This diversity shows the need to study Asian ethnic groups separately.
Klatsky
Arthur L
AL
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland California, USA. arthur.klatsky@kp.org
Tekawa
Irene
I
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D002140:California; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires