Filipino American children have a significantly higher prevalence of asthma compared to other Asian American subgroups, according to a new study that highlights health disparities among Asian ethnicities in the U.S.
The research, published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, found that 21.5% of Filipino American children have asthma, compared to just 5.1% of Korean American children – the lowest rate among Asian subgroups studied.
“We found that childhood lifetime asthma prevalence varied among Asian American ethnic groups, with lowest prevalence in Korean American children and the highest prevalence in Filipino American children,” said lead researcher Dr. Meng Cheng, clinical assistant professor at Stanford University.
The study analyzed California health survey data to examine asthma rates across different Asian ethnicities. While the exact causes are unclear, researchers noted that Filipino populations have high smoking rates, which may contribute to childhood asthma risk beginning in the womb.
Dr. Cheng emphasized the importance of disaggregating data on Asian Americans to uncover health disparities that may be masked when treating Asians as a monolithic group.
“Our research highlights the importance of and need for disaggregating Asian American ethnic groups to better understand distinct clinical features,” he said.
The findings point to a serious public health issue for Filipino American children that could have long-term impacts if left unaddressed. Researchers say more studies are needed to determine the specific factors driving higher asthma rates in this population.
See “Filipino American children have higher rate of asthma” (January 25, 2024)
