Self-reported asthma prevalence in adults in California

Data from the 1998 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were examined. The BRFSS is an ongoing statewide telephone survey of randomly selected adults. The prevalence of self-reported lifetime asthma was 13.6% and the prevalence of active asthma was 6.6%. Prevalence rates were highest among African-Americans and lowest among Hispanics. Associations between asthma and gender, obesity, smoking, depression, migraine, and income were also examined. Active asthma was associated with low income, smoking, obesity, migraine, and depression in women, but not in men. The relationships observed suggest complex interactions between asthma and other chronic conditions, gender, and life-style.