Research involving over 2.6 million individuals suggests that Asian and Black ethnic groups may be more prone to underreport health issues such as anxiety, depression, and challenges in daily activities compared to their white counterparts. This significant finding emerges from a study conducted by health economists at The University of Manchester, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM). The study is published in the journal Quality of Life Research.
The research highlights that individuals from various ethnic backgrounds who reported long-term health conditions assessed their quality of life differently, even when the prevalence of actual illness was similar. This disparity emphasizes the need for further empirical evidence regarding health reporting among different ethnic groups.
Using data from the General Practice Patient Survey in England, the study included responses from approximately 2.3 million white respondents, 160,000 Asian, 70,000 Black, 20,000 from mixed or multiple backgrounds, and 60,000 from other ethnic groups. The findings raise potential implications for the equitable design of health services and the measurement of health outcomes.
The survey relied on self-reported long-term health conditions, which researchers believe provide a more objective measure compared to previous studies in England. Notably, this study is the largest to investigate differences in self-rating across ethnicities.
According to lead author Dr. Juan Marcelo Virdis, “Our study found that certain Black and Asian ethnic groups could be more likely to downplay different aspects of how health affects their lives.” He noted that discrepancies between perceived and actual health could influence healthcare-seeking behaviors, potentially delaying clinical consultations.
The researchers employed the EQ-5D-5L tool, developed by the EuroQol Group, to assess health-related quality of life. This standardized measurement evaluates five dimensions of health: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is rated on a scale of severity, ranging from no problems to extreme problems or being unable to perform activities.
The study found that in some instances, such as mobility among Black and other ethnic groups or self-care among Asians, there was a tendency to choose more severe categories. Moreover, the analysis revealed differences within these broader ethnic classifications, suggesting that variability exists even among individuals of the same ethnic background.
While the reasons behind these differences in reporting remain unclear, some researchers speculate that responses to subjective health questions may be influenced by cultural norms and individual expectations. Dr. Virdis stated, “Our research provides a scenario for further studies using objectively measured health conditions, such as biological risk factors or objective measures of physical health like grip strength.”
The study opens avenues for future research to explore the underlying mechanisms affecting health reporting across diverse populations. The paper entitled “Differences in rating of health-related quality of life on the EQ-5D-5L between ethnic groups” is available for further reading.
