The health status of Vietnamese immigrants in Hawaii from chart records.

Objectives: We determined the most common diseases among adult Vietnamese men and women in Hawaii.

Methods: A chart review of 952 adult Vietnamese patients was conducted between January and February 2000. A data collection form with 39 categories of diagnosed chronic illnesses or problems was used. The study was conducted at a Vietnamese internist's private medical office in Honolulu, HI.

Results: Chart review revealed that the five most prevalent diagnostic conditions seen in Vietnamese men, from the highest to lowest frequency, were gastrointestinal disorders (39%), cutaneous conditions (31%), lower back pain (23%), headache (18%), and allergies (18%). In women, gastrointestinal disorders (38%), cutaneous conditions (34%), headache (32%), gynecologic conditions (30%), and arthritic diseases (24%) were most common. Gender, years of U.S. arrival, and types of occupation were significantly correlated with certain diseases (p< or =0.05).

Conclusions: This is the first study to examine frequency of diseases diagnosed in an ambulatory care setting in a cohort of Vietnamese patients in Hawaii.