OBJECTIVES

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States, yet little is known about their multimorbidity. This study examined the association of Asian Indians, Chinese and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) to multimorbidity.

METHODS

We utilized a cross-sectional design with data from the National Health Interview Survey pooled sample (2012–2017) of Asian Indians, Chinese and NHWs (N = 132,666). Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of two or more selected chronic conditions. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions were used to examine the independent relationship of race/ethnicity to multimorbidity.

RESULTS

Our study sample represented 1.9% Asian Indians, 1.8% Chinese and 96.3% NHWs. Significant differences in socio-economic and lifestyle factors were noted between the three groups. Asian Indians had the highest percentage of college education (73%), followed by Chinese (56.1%) and NHWs (34.4%). Asian Indians were less likely to be current smokers, have physical inactivity and more likely to be obese compared to NHWs. In unadjusted analyses (p < .001), 17.1% Asian Indians, 17.9% Chinese, and 39.0% NHWs had multimorbidity. Among the dyads, high cholesterol and hypertension were the most common combination among Asian Indians (32.4%), Chinese (41.0%) and NHWs (20.6%). After adjusting for age, sex, and other risk factors, Asian Indians (AOR=0.47, 95% CI=[0.40, 0.56]) and Chinese ([AOR=0.44, 95% CI=[0.38, 0.51]) were less likely to have multimorbidity compared to NHWs. Age stratified (< 65 years and > 65 years) analyses revealed similar findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Asian Indians and Chinese were associated with a lower prevalence of multimorbidity compared to NHWs after controlling for age, sex, and other risk factors. Although overall multimorbidity rates were lower, Asian Indians and Chinese were more likely to have high-cholesterol and hypertension, risk factors to heart disease and diabetes. Further research on type of multimorbidity, specifically those related to cardiovascular clusters in Asian Indians and Chinese is needed.