title: Association between birthplace and current asthma: the role of environment and acculturation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated associations between current asthma and birthplace among major racial/ethnic groups in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used multivariate logistic regression methods to analyze data on 102,524 children and adolescents and 255,156 adults in the National Health Interview Survey (2001-2009).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly higher prevalence (P < .05) of current asthma among children and adolescents (9.3% vs 5.1%) and adults (7.6% vs 4.7%) born in the 50 states and Washington, DC (US-born), than among those born elsewhere. These differences were among all age groups of non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Hispanics (excluding Puerto Ricans) and among Chinese adults. Non-US-born adults with 10 or more years of residency in the United States had higher odds of current asthma (odds ratio = 1.55; 95% confidence interval = 1.25, 1.93) than did those who arrived more recently. Findings suggested a similar trend among non-US-born children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current asthma status was positively associated with being born in the United States and with duration of residency in the United States. Among other contributing factors, changes in environment and acculturation may explain some of the differences in asthma prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Shahed Iqbal, Emeka Oraka, and Ginger L. Chew are with the Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, and W. Dana Flanders is with the Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. W. Dana Flanders is also with the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta.
authors.forename: Shahed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Emeka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oraka
authors.forename: Ginger L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: W Dana
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Flanders
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult