Asthma and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Asthma

National data for this population is very limited.
While all of the causes of asthma remain unclear, children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke exposure are at increased risk for acute lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis. Children living below or near the poverty level are more likely to have high levels of blood cotinine, a breakdown product of nicotine, than children living in higher income families.
In 2014, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were 30 percent more likely to have asthma, as compared to non-Hispanic whites.

**Percentage of asthma among persons 18 years of age and over, ever being told they had asthma, 2015**
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Non-Hispanic White	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
13.9*	13.5	1.0

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-2.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

**Percent of current asthma prevalence, 2015**
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Non-Hispanic White	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
--	7.9	--

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-2.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

**Percentage of asthma among persons 18 years of age and over, ever being told they had asthma, 2014**
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Non-Hispanic White	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
19.2	13.5	1.4

Source: CDC, 2017. Selected Health Conditions Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Adults: United States, 2014. Figure 4
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db277.pdf [333KB]
Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2014. Table A-2.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

**Percentage of asthma among persons 18 years of age and over, still have asthma, 2014**
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Non-Hispanic White	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
9.9	7.8	1.3

**Percentage of adults 18 years of age and over with asthma, 2004-2006**
	Population	White	Population/White Ratio
Total Asian	8.0	11.0	0.7
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander & other	10.2	11.0	0.9

Source: CDC 2008. Health characteristics of the Asian adult population: United States, 2004-2006, Table 4.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad394.pdf [PDF | 475KB]

The most recent National Surveillance for Asthma does not include data for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

**Age-adjusted percentages for children under 18 years of age, ever being told they had asthma, 2015**
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Non-Hispanic White	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
27.4*	11.7	2.3

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table C-1.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

**Age-adjusted percentages for children under 18 years of age, who currently have asthma, 2012**
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Non-Hispanic White	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
7.9	7.9	1.0

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table C-1.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

*Estimates have a high relative standard error and should be used with caution as they do not meet the standards of reliability set by the CDC.

Last Modified: 8/15/2017 2:11:00 PM

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