ASTHMA IN A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE POPULATION

Asians and Pacific Islanders comprise a large and growing minority gro up in the United States, yet data on health status specific to these p opulations are scant. We conducted an epidemiologic study of asthma in a Vietnamese refugee population to estimate prevalence, evaluate risk factors, and better understand treatments of asthma among Vietnamese individuals. One hundred twenty-four asthma cases were identified from a population of 2,536 new Vietnamese refugees in San Diego (prevalenc e = 49 per 1,000; 4.9%). Two nonasthmatic control groups of Vietnamese refugees, matched for age and gender with the asthma cases, were recr uited for a case-control study, using a questionnaire administered in Vietnamese. Vietnamese asthmatic individuals used both Western and non -Western therapies. Most subjects used traditional health practices, s uch as coining, cupping, and oil inhalation. As compared with current- refugee controls, the asthmatic subjects used significantly more bleed ing (OR: 3.40; 95% CI: 1.06 to 10.80) and herbal ingestion (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.08 to 3.19). As compared with former-refugee controls, the a sthmatic subjects used significantly more oil inhalation (OR: 2.58; 95 % CI: 1.45 to 4.85), bleeding (OR: 8.64, 95% CI: 1.02 to 73.70), and h erbal ingestion (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.02 to 3.67). The presentation and recognition of asthma among the Vietnamese subjects were similar to t hose in other populations. This information may be helpful in designin g culture-specific health-education programs.