Health Screening Disparities Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

A recent comprehensive survey has shed light on significant health access and screening disparities among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NH/PI) communities in the United States. These groups face higher impacts from chronic diseases such as hepatitis B, diabetes, and tuberculosis, according to findings presented by Dr. Rita K. Kuwahara at the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting.

Dr. Kuwahara, a primary care physician and Healio Primary Care Peer Perspective Board member, conducted the survey to highlight gaps in diagnosis and treatment opportunities. The study also explored how evolving U.S. health and immigration policies might affect healthcare accessibility.

Conducted in September 2025, the survey involved 1,027 AA and NH/PI adults and examined demographics like age, gender, education, and citizenship status. It revealed that although 90% of participants had a primary care physician, uninsured individuals were considerably less likely to have one.

Screening discrepancies were notable, with only 58% of participants aged 35 to 70 with a BMI of 23 kg/m² to 24.9 kg/m² being screened for diabetes. This was despite guidelines suggesting screenings should begin at a BMI of 23 kg/m². Conversely, 72% with a BMI of 25 kg/m² or higher had undergone screenings. Additionally, only half were screened for tuberculosis, and a mere 40% for hepatitis B, with 45% vaccinated against it.

Financial concerns heavily influenced healthcare decisions, with 15% of adults delaying or avoiding care due to costs—a figure that rises within specific insurance cohorts. Nearly half of Medicaid recipients feared losing coverage.

Immigration-related fears also hindered healthcare access. Some non-U.S. citizens avoided healthcare services due to deportation worries, with similar anxieties present among certain U.S. citizens. Dr. Kuwahara stressed the need for clinical practices to adopt specific screening protocols for these populations, advocating hepatitis B screenings and vaccination strategies following CDC guidelines.

Dr. Kuwahara acknowledged potential biases in the study owing to the higher socioeconomic status of participants, indicating potential broader issues. The call to action involves modifying healthcare services to address financial and policy-related barriers, aiming to support communities reluctant to seek necessary care.