Racial Differences in Comorbidity Patterns among Adults Individuals with Asthma

초록

Background and Aims: Asthma manifests differently across racial and ethnic groups. However, the differences in comorbidity profiles among racial groups in adults with asthma have been scarcely investigated. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2007–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the 2010–2012 Korea NHANES. Adult individuals with asthma aged over 40 years were included in the analyses. Comorbidities were analyzed by racial and ethnic groups. Comorbidity profiles were analyzed by racial and ethnic groups and were identified using questionnaires, measurements, and laboratory tests. Results: A total of 1728 individuals with asthma were enrolled, including 732 Non-Hispanic White, 377 Non-Hispanic Black, 180 Hispanic, and 439 Asian participants. Significant differences in the comorbidity profiles were observed across racial groups. Non-Hispanic Black individuals exhibited the highest prevalence rates across most comorbidities, including obesity (44.9%), hypertension (74.4%), anemia (22.8%), rheumatoid arthritis (24.0%), myocardial infarction (8.7%), and stroke (11.4%). Non-Hispanic White individuals had the highest prevalence of cancers (19.0%), while Hispanic individuals showed the highest prevalence of depression (26.8%), diabetes mellitus (36.0), and dyslipidemia (79.3%). Asian individuals had the lowest prevalence of most comorbidities, except for osteoarthritis (25.7%), which was most prevalent in this group. These disparities remained significant in adjusted prevalence ratios, accounting for age, sex, smoking status, and low income. Conclusion: Comorbidity patterns in adult individuals with asthma differed across racial and ethnic groups, highlighting the need for tailored clinical approaches to address population-specific health risks.