Chronic Asthma and Major Depressive Disorder: The Role of Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Income Ratio

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that chronic asthma is related to lifetime major depressive episode (MDE). The aim of the present study was to examine the asthma and MDE relationship as a function of both poverty income ratio and race/ethnicity. Methods: Demographic, asthma, and MDE data were obtained on Mexican-Americans, non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was used to diagnose lifetime DSM-III MDE; current asthma status was determined by self-report. Logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustment for survey design, age, employment and smoking status. Results: There was no association between asthma and MDE among non-Hispanic Blacks. Asthma was related with MDE only among poor or near poor non-Hispanic Whites (odds ratio= 2.57; [95% confidence interval= 1.01-6.53]), while for Mexican-Americans a significant positive association was found only among those living at more than 3.4 times the poverty level (6.17 [1.21-31.47]). Among Mexican-Americans, asthma was related with MDE only among those born in the US even after adjustment for poverty status and other covariates (2.71 [1.20-6.09]). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that poor or near poor non-Hispanic Whites with asthma and US born Mexican-Americans with asthma may be at the greatest risk for MDE.