This article examines the mortality and morbidity patterns of Chinese elderly in America by using two established data sources: (1) the most recent vital statistics maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics, and (2) the cancer registry program called SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) maintained by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health. The results suggest that Chinese Americans are relatively healthier than white Americans, the average age-adjusted death rate being lower for Chinese than for white Americans. Likewise, the age-specific death rates for all causes of death are lower for Chinese than for the majority white population. Details of statistics on rates of suicide, heart disease, neoplasms, and various forms of cancer are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Carp, F.
and E. Kataoka1976"Health care problems of the elderly of San Francisco's Chinatown."Gerontologist16, 1: (Part 1: 30-38).
2.
Fingerhut, L. A.
, R. W. Wilson, and J. J. Feldman1980"Health and disease in the United States."Annual Rev. of Public Health1; 1-36
3.
Ho, J. H.
1979 "Some epidemiologic observations on cancer in Hong Kong." National Cancer Institute Monograph 53 (Nov.), NIH Publication No. 79-1864: 3547, Second Symposium on Epidemiology and Cancer Registries in the Pacific Basin.
4.
James, G.
, R. E. Patton, and A. S. Heslin1955"Accuracy of cause-of-death statements on death certificates."Public Health Reports70: 39-51.
5.
Kan, S. H.
and W. T. Liu 1984 "The poverty class of Asian Americans." Paper presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting in Boston, March 8-10.
6.
Keely, C.1971"Effects of the Immigration Act of 1965 on selected population characteristics of immigrants to the United States."Demography8, 2: 157-169.
7.
King, H.1975"Selected epidemiologic aspects of major diseases and causes of death among Chinese in the United States and Asia," pp. 487-550 in A. Kleinmanet al. (eds.) Medicine in Chinese Cultures: Comparative Studies of Health Care in Chinese and Other Societies. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
8.
King, H.
and F. B. Locke1981"Chinese in the United States: a century of occupational transition."Int. Migration Rev.14, 1: 15-42.
9.
Kitagawa, E. M.
and P. M. Hauser1973Differential Mortality in the United States: A Study of Socioeconomic Epidemiology. Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press.
10.
Li, F. P.
, N. Y. Schief, C. J. Chang, and A. C. Gaw1972"Health care for the Chinese community in Boston."Amer. J. of Public Health62 (April): 536-539.
11.
Moriyama, I. M.
, T. R. Dawber, and W. B. Kannel1966"Evaluation of diagnostic information supporting medical certification of deaths from cardiovascular diseases," pp. 405-419 in W. Haenszel (ed.), Epidemiological Approaches to the Study of Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases. National Cancer Institute Monograph No. 19. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
12.
Moriyama, I. M.
, W. S. Baum, W. M. Haenszel, and B. F. Mattison1958"Inquiry into diagnostic evidence supporting medical certifications of death."Amer. J. of Public Health48: 1376-1387.
13.
Nathanson, C. A.1984"Sex differences in mortality."Annual Rev. of Sociology10: 191-213.
14.
P/AAMHRC1982Research Review 1 (Jan.): 9. Chicago: Pacific/Asian American Mental Health Center.
15.
Pohlen, K.1943"Errors in clinical statements of causes of death: second report."Amer. J. of Public Health33: 505-516.
16.
Pohlen, K.
and H. Emerson1942"Errors in clinical judgment of causes of death."Amer. J. of Public Health32: 251-260.
17.
Rice, D.
and E.S.H. Yu 1983 "Health of the Chinese in America." Proceedings of the First Conference on Health Problems Related to Chinese in America. San Francisco: University of California and Chinese Hospital of San Francisco, May 24-25.
18.
Waldron, I.1983"Sex differences in human mortality: the role of genetic factors."Social Science and Medicine17, 6: 321-333.
19.
Wingard, D. L.1982"The sex differentials in mortality rates."Amer. J. of Epidemiology115, 2: 205-216.
20.
Wu, Y.1980"Income, employment, and occupational patterns: three decades of change;" pp. 1-19 in Y. Wu (ed.) The Economic Condition of Chinese Americans. Monograph Series No. 3. Chicago: Pacific/Asian American Mental Health Research Center (P/AAMHRC).
21.
Yu, E.S.H.1982a"The epidemiology of nasopharyngeal cancer in Chinese populations."Columbia University, Division of Epidemiology
. (unpublished)
22.
1982b"The low mortality rates of Chinese infants: some plausible explanatory factors."Social Science and Medicine16: 253-265.
23.
Yu, E.S.H.
, C. Chang, W. T. Liu, and S. H. Kan1984Asian-White Mortality Differentials: Are There Excess Deaths? Bethesda, MD: Department of Health and Human Services' Task Force on Black and Minority Health.
