How Does Gambling Correlate with Chronic Health Conditions?

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between gambling behaviors and health outcomes, focusing on chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes). Using data from the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a mixed-mode survey with address-based sampling, we analyzed a large, diverse sample of California residents. We conducted logistic regression models that assessed the correlation between gambling and health outcomes, adjusting for gender and age. Our results indicate that individuals who gambled within the past year had significantly higher odds of reporting hypertension (OR=1.35) 95% CI [1.24, 1.48] and diabetes (OR=1.32) 95% CI [1.16, 1.49] in comparison to non-gamblers. Gender and age were identified as significant predictors of health outcomes across all models, while gambling did not show an interaction effect with gender. These findings highlight the complicated relationships between gambling behaviors and chronic physical illnesses. It is crucial we emphasize gambling as a serious public health concern. This study contributes to the existing literature by using recent and newly available CHIS 2023 data to address gaps in understanding the health risks associated with gambling. Understanding these relationships can help develop future research, interventions, and policies to reduce the negative health impacts of gambling, particularly among vulnerable populations.