title: Racial and ethnic differences in asthma and mental health among US adults: results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the racial and ethnic differences in asthma and mental health comorbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary analysis of 2008-2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted, resulting in a total of 206 993 civilian adult respondents to evaluate the association between asthma and mental health (past year serious psychological distress [SPD] and doctor diagnosis of depression). Both survey weighted bivariate (chi-square) and multivariable (binary logistic) regression analyses, after accounting for control variables, were conducted to evaluate the asthma/mental health nexus. A p value of less than 0.05 was used to denote significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current asthma was significantly associated with past year SPD for non-Hispanic Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.45), Hispanics (aOR = 1.68), and Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.47). A similar association was noted for current asthma and past year doctor diagnosis of depression (non-Hispanic White aOR = 1.74; Hispanics aOR = 1.77; Black/African American aOR = 1.62). Among those with lifetime asthma, higher odds of SPD were reported for non-Hispanic Whites (aOR = 1.42), Hispanics (aOR = 1.64), and Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.50). Lifetime asthma also significantly associated with past year doctor diagnosis of depression for non-Hispanic Whites (aOR = 1.42), Hispanics (aOR = 1.41), and Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.46).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the significant burden of asthma and mental health comorbidity among diverse racial and ethnic groups. Improved public health efforts through promotion of integrated care for early screening and preventive measures are needed to alleviate the burden for at-risk groups.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Science and Human Ecology , California State University , San Bernardino , CA , USA .
authors.forename: Devin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.forename: Monideepa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Becerra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Current asthma; depression; lifetime asthma; racial and ethnic groups; serious psychological distress