NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Health of Non-Hispanic Asian Adults: United States, 

2010–2014

Barbara Bloom, M.P.A., and Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health Interview Survey, 

2010–2014

● Non-Hispanic Asian adults 

were less likely than all U.S. 

adults to be in fair or poor 

health, have multiple chronic 

conditions, have serious 

psychological distress in the 

past 30 days, or be limited in 

work or social participation.

● Chinese adults reported 

better health on all five 

measures in this report 

compared with all U.S. adults.

● Chinese adults (11.3%) 

were less likely than Filipino 

(22.3%), Asian Indian 

(16.9%), Japanese (16.8%), 

or Vietnamese (15.6%) adults 

to have multiple chronic 

conditions.

● Chinese (1.8%) and Asian 

Indian (1.5%) adults were 

about one-half as likely as 

Japanese adults (4.1%) to have 

a work limitation.

● Chinese (2.4%), Japanese 

(2.2%), and Vietnamese (2.4%) 

adults were about one-half as 

likely as Korean adults (4.6%) to 

be limited in social participation.

About 5% of the U.S. population, or 15 million persons, are Asian (1). The Asian 

population is heterogeneous, characterized by a variety of languages, cultures, 

socioeconomic statuses, and health issues (2–4). Estimates are presented on 

health status, multiple chronic conditions, serious psychological distress, and 

limitations on work or social participation for all non-Hispanic Asian adults 

and the six largest Asian subgroups: Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Japanese, 

Vietnamese, and Korean. Estimates for all U.S. adults are also shown.

Keywords: chronic conditions • National Health Interview Survey

Did the percentage of adults in fair or poor health vary 

among non-Hispanic Asian subgroups?

Overall, Chinese (8.4%), Filipino (8.7%), Asian Indian (8.9%), and Japanese 

(8.1%) adults were less likely than all U.S. adults (12.4%) to be in fair or poor 

health (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 18 and over in fair or poor health, by 

non-Hispanic Asian subgroup: United States, 2010–2014

 

1

Significantly different than United States (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different than Korean (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly different than Vietnamese (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db247_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2010–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

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Vietnamese adults (16.8%) were more likely and Korean adults (12.2%) were about equally as 

likely as all U.S. adults (12.4%) to be in fair or poor health. 

Among non-Hispanic Asian subgroups, Vietnamese adults (16.8%) were more likely than Korean 

adults (12.2%) and about twice as likely as Chinese (8.4%), Filipino (8.7%), Asian Indian (8.9%), 

and Japanese (8.1%) adults to be in fair or poor health.

Did the percentage of adults with multiple chronic conditions differ among 

non-Hispanic Asian subgroups?

Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults (16.3%) were about two-thirds as likely to have multiple 

chronic conditions (i.e., conditions lasting 3 months or longer) compared with all U.S. adults 

(24.1%). Filipino adults (22.3%), however, were about equally as likely as all U.S. adults (24.1%) 

to have multiple chronic conditions (Figure 2).

Chinese adults (11.3%) were about one-half as likely as all U.S. adults (24.1%) to have multiple 

chronic conditions.

Filipino adults (22.3%) were more likely than Chinese (11.3%), Asian Indian (16.9%), Korean 

(14.0%), Japanese (16.8%), and Vietnamese (15.6%) adults to have multiple chronic conditions.

Figure 2. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 18 and over with multiple chronic conditions, by non-Hispanic Asian 

subgroup: United States, 2010–2014 

1

Signficantly different than United States (p < 0.05). 2

Signficantly different than Filipino (p < 0.05). 3

Signficantly different than Asian Indian (p < 0.05). 4

Signficantly different than Japanese (p < 0.05). 5

Signficantly different than Vietnamese (p < 0.05). 6

Signficantly different than Korean (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: Chronic conditions include two or more of the following 10 conditions: hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, hepatitis, 

weak or failing kidneys, asthma, and emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis. Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/

db247_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2010–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

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Did the percentage of adults with serious psychological distress differ 

among non-Hispanic Asian subgroups?

Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults (1.7%) were about one-half as likely to have serious 

psychological distress in the past 30 days as all U.S. adults (3.2%) (Figure 3). 

The age-adjusted percentage of Vietnamese adults (2.6%) with serious psychological distress in 

the past 30 days was similar to that of all U.S. adults (3.2%).

The age-adjusted percentages of Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Korean, and Japanese adults 

with serious psychological distress in the past 30 days ranged from 1.1% to 1.6% and did 

not differ significantly from each other. The percentage of Vietnamese adults (2.6%) with 

serious psychological distress was higher than for other non-Hispanic Asian subgroups, but the 

differences were not statistically significant.

Figure 3. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 18 and over with serious psychological distress, by non-Hispanic Asian 

subgroup: United States, 2010–2014 

* Estimate has a relative standard error between 30% and 50% and should be used with caution as it does not meet standards of reliability or precision.

1

Significantly different than United States (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different than Vietnamese (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db247_table.pdf#3.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2010–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

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Did the percentage of adults with a work limitation differ among 

non-Hispanic Asian subgroups?

Non-Hispanic Asian adults overall (2.2%) and non-Hispanic Asian adults in each subgroup were 

less likely to have a work limitation than all U.S. adults (6.5%) (Figure 4). 

Among non-Hispanic Asian subgroups, Chinese (1.8%) and Asian Indian (1.5%) adults were 

about one-half as likely as Japanese adults (4.1%) to have a work limitation.

Figure 4. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 18–64 with a work limitation, by non-Hispanic Asian subgroup: 

United States, 2010–2014 

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is suppressed.

1

Signficantly different than United States (p < 0.05). 2

Signficantly different than Japanese (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db247_table.pdf#4.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2010–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

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Did the percentage of adults who were limited in social participation vary 

among non-Hispanic Asian subgroups?

Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults (3.0%) were less likely to be limited in social participation in 

the past 30 days than all U.S. adults (3.9%) (Figure 5).

Chinese (2.4%), Filipino (3.0%), Japanese (2.2%), and Vietnamese (2.4%) adults were less likely 

to be limited in social participation than all U.S. adults (3.9%). However, Korean (4.6%) and 

Asian Indian (4.1%) adults were similarly limited in social participation compared with all U.S. 

adults.

Among non-Hispanic Asian subgroups, Korean adults (4.6%) were about twice as likely 

as Chinese (2.4%), Japanese (2.2%), and Vietnamese (2.4%) adults to be limited in social 

participation.

Figure 5. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 18 and over with a social participation limitation, by non-Hispanic Asian 

subgroup: United States, 2010–2014 

1

Signficantly different than United States (p < 0.05). 2

Signficantly different than Korean (p < 0.05). 3

Signficantly different than Japanese (p < 0.05). 4

Signficantly different than Vietnamese (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 5 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db247_table.pdf#5.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2010–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

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Summary

In 2010–2014, non-Hispanic Asian adults were less likely than all U.S. adults to be in fair or poor 

health, or to have multiple chronic conditions, serious psychological distress in the past 30 days, 

or limitations in work or social participation. Chinese adults reported a consistent pattern of good 

health on all five measures in this report. Among other non-Hispanic Asian subgroups, however, 

no clear patterns were seen for these measures. Compared with other subgroups, Vietnamese 

adults were more likely to report fair or poor health, serious psychological distress, and work 

limitations, but were not more likely to report multiple chronic conditions or limitations in social 

participation. Korean adults were more likely to report having fair or poor health. Korean and 

Asian Indian adults were more likely to report limitations in social behavior, but neither group 

was more likely to have multiple chronic conditions or serious psychological distress. Japanese 

adults were more likely to have work limitations, and Filipino adults were more likely to have 

multiple chronic conditions. 

Previously, substantial disparities in having health insurance coverage, health care utilization, 

health behaviors, and chronic disease prevalence were reported among non-Hispanic Asian 

subgroups (3–6). The findings of this study are consistent with these earlier analyses on 

non-Hispanic Asian subgroups and add to the body of evidence concerning their widely varying 

health. Further research is needed to better understand the differences among subgroups in health 

care and health care outcomes for this population. 

Definitions

Fair or poor health status: Based on the response to the survey question, “Would you say your 

health in general is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?”

Multiple chronic conditions: Based on adults having been told by a health professional that 

they had two or more of the following conditions: hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, 

diabetes, cancer, arthritis, hepatitis, weak or failing kidneys, asthma, and emphysema and/or 

chronic bronchitis (7). 

Serious psychological distress: Based on responses to six survey questions on how often a 

respondent felt sad, nervous, restless, hopeless, that everything was an effort, or worthless during 

the past 30 days. Response codes, 0–4, for each of the six items are summed to yield a scale with 

a 0–24 range, with a value of 13 or more defining serious psychological distress (8). Adults with 

missing data for any of the questions were excluded from this analysis (about 9% for 2010–2014). 

Social participation limitation: Based on the responses “very difficult” or “can’t do at all” to 

either of the two questions, “By yourself, and without using any special equipment, how difficult 

is it for you to ...Participate in social activities such as visiting friends, attending clubs and 

meetings, going to parties? ...Go out to things like shopping, movies, or sporting events?”

Work limitation: Based on the questions, ‘‘Does a physical, mental, or emotional problem now 

keep [family members 18 or older] from working at a job or business?’’ and for persons not kept 

from working, ‘‘Are [family members 18 or older] limited in the kind or amount of work they can 

do because of a physical, mental, or emotional problem?’’ In this report, data on work limitation 

include adults aged 18–64. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

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Data source and methods

Data from the 2010–2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used for this analysis. 

NHIS data are collected continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health 

Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are conducted in respondents’ homes, but follow-ups to complete 

interviews may be conducted by telephone. 

In 2010–2014, information was collected on 165,950 adults aged 18 and over. There were 

9,813 non-Hispanic Asian adults, including 2,138 Chinese, 2,095 Filipino, 1,922 Asian Indian, 

897 Korean, 865 Japanese, 795 Vietnamese, and 1,101 other Asian adults. Estimates were ageadjusted using the projected 2000 U.S. population and the following age groups: 18–44, 45–64, 

65–74, and 75 and over for all data except work limitation, which were age-adjusted using age 

groups 18–24, 25–44, and 45–65. 

NHIS is designed to yield a nationally representative sample, and this analysis used the sample 

adult weight to produce national estimates. Data weighting procedures are described elsewhere 

(9). All estimates in this report meet NCHS standards of reliability (relative standard error less 

than or equal to 30%), unless otherwise noted. Differences between percentages were evaluated 

using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. The estimated standard error of the difference 

between total non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Asian subgroups, and total U.S. estimates 

accounted for nonindependence, where appropriate. 

Less than 1% of NHIS interviews are conducted in languages other than English or Spanish. 

In these cases, often a family member translates into the respondent’s native language. During 

2010–2014, about 8% of interviews were conducted in other languages for non-Hispanic Asian 

respondents. In addition, family respondents rated the sample adult’s ability to speak English “not 

well or not at all” for 16.6% of non-Hispanic Asian adults compared with 6.5% of all U.S. adults. 

This limitation should be considered when interpreting results in this report. More information 

about NHIS is available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

About the authors

Barbara Bloom and Lindsey I. Black are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division 

of Health Interview Statistics.

References

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subgroups. Med Care Res Rev 70(3): 310–29. 2013. 

4. Barnes PM, Adams PF, Powell-Griner E. Health characteristics of the Asian adult population: 

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National Center for Health Statistics. 2008. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 247 ■ May 2016

5. Holland AT, Wong EC, Lauderdale DS, Palaniappan LP. Spectrum of 

cardiovascular diseases in Asian-American racial/ethnic subgroups. Ann 

Epidemiol 21(8): 608–614. 2011.

6. Aoki Y, Yoon SS, Chong Y, Carroll MD. Hypertension, abnormal 

cholesterol, and high body mass index among non-Hispanic Asian adults: 

United States, 2011–2012. NCHS data brief, no 140. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2014.

7. Goodman RA, Posner SF, Huang ES, Parekh AK, Koh HK. Defining and 

measuring chronic conditions: Imperatives for research, policy, program, and 

practice. Prev Chronic Dis 10:E66. 2013. Available from: http://www.cdc.

gov/pcd/issues/2013/12_0239.htm.

8. Kessler RC, Barker PR, Colpe LJ, Epstein JF, Gfroerer JC, Hiripi E, et 

al. Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen 

Psychiatry 60(2):184–9. 2003. 

9. Parsons VL, Moriarity C, Jonas K, et al. Design and estimation for the 

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Suggested citation

Bloom B, Black LI. Health of non-Hispanic 

Asian adults: United States, 2010–2014.

NCHS data brief, no 247. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics

Marcie L. Cynamon, Director

Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

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