Immigrants on average have better health than native-born residents. However, no clear understanding of prevalence of chronic conditions across foreign-born groups exists, and few studies include Afro-Caribbean populations. This study utilizes the National Latino and Asian American Study and the National Survey of American Life to investigate nativity differences in reports of chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, and pain conditions between foreign-born (n = 3,579) and native-born (n = 1,409) respondents. Native-born respondents were significantly more likely than foreign-born counterparts to report chronic respiratory [c2(1, n = 4,958) 30.78, P ≤.05] and pain [c2(1, n = 4,958) 3.77, P ≤.05] conditions. Logistic regression models reveal significant associations between chronic conditions and other demographic factors known to influence immigrant health. Afro-Caribbean populations were less likely than other foreign-born respondents to report respiratory and pain conditions. Findings illustrate the importance of comparing health profiles across native-born and foreign-born counterparts with the inclusion of Afro-Caribbean Americans. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.

Chronic health Ethnicity Caribbean race

human middle aged statistics health status Aged Logistic Models Health Surveys Central America chronic disease African American ethnology Hispanic Americans Young Adult Humans Hispanic Adolescent Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants Asian American Socioeconomic Factors female socioeconomics Caribbean Region prevalence Article adult migration age Age Factors statistical model sex African Americans health survey