A comparison of respiratory conditions between multiple race adults and their single race counterparts: an analysis based on American Indian/Alaska Native and white adults.

CONTEXT

Multiple race data collection/reporting are relatively new among United States federal statistical systems. Not surprisingly, very little is known about the multiple race population in the USA. It is well known that some race and ethnic groups experience some respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma) disproportionately. However, not much is known about the experience of multiple race adults. If differences exist in how single/multiple race adults experience respiratory conditions, this information could be useful in public health education.

OBJECTIVE

To explore differences in respiratory conditions between single race white adults, single race American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) adults, and adults who are both white and AIAN (largest multiple race group of adults in the USA).

METHODS

Data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, were analyzed. Hispanic and black populations are oversampled. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to predict if the occurrence of each respiratory condition analyzed differed by single/multiple race reporting.

SAMPLE

A nationally representative sample of 127,596 civilian non-institutionalized adults (> or = 18 years of age) from the 2000--2003 NHIS.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Adults told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma, hay fever, sinusitis, and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

RESULTS

Adults who are both AIAN and white generally had higher rates of respiratory conditions than did their single race counterparts. These differences persisted even after controlling for socio-demographic and health care access measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper presents some of the first research of how the health of some multiple race adults differs from their single race counterparts. Contrary to some previous expectations for these estimates, respiratory condition estimates for adults who are both AIAN and white do not appear to be located between those of the component single race groups.