Time Trends in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Asthma Prevalence in the United States From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Study (1999–2011)

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302172
• Publication Date: 2014-10-16T20:03:48Z
• Authors: Nandita Bhan; Ichiro Kawachi; Maria M. Glymour; S. V. Subramanian
• Keywords: Adult; Male; 330; Asian; Health Status Disparities; Hispanic or Latino; Asthma; United States; White People; 3. Good health; Black or African American; Interviews as Topic; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Socioeconomic Factors; Risk Factors; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Demography

Objectives. We examined whether racial/ethnic disparities in the United States increased over time. Methods. We analyzed data from 3 868 956 adults across the United States from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 1999 to 2011. We used random intercepts models (individuals nested in states) to examine racial/ethnic disparities and time trends in asthma lifetime and its current prevalence, adjusted for covariates. We also investigated the heterogeneity in asthma prevalence by ethnicity of the major zone of residence. Results. Lifetime and current asthma prevalence were higher among non-Hispanic Black populations, with time trends highlighting increasing differences over time (b = 0.0078; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0043, 0.0106). Lower odds ratios (ORs) of asthma were noted for Hispanic populations (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.73, 0.76). Hispanics in states with more Puerto Rican residents reported greater risks of asthma (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.24, 1.93) compared with Hispanics in states with larger numbers of Mexican or other ethnicities. Conclusions. Disparities in asthma prevalence by racial/ethnic groups increased in the last decade, with non-Hispanic Blacks and Puerto Rican Hispanics at greater risk. Interventions targeting asthma treatments need to recognize racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities.