Traditional Heart Disease Risk Factors Account for Half of Black-White Racial Disparity in Stroke

Although the total number of stroke deaths declined by more than 50 percent between 1978 and 2006, racial disparities in stroke deaths have remained and efforts to eliminate health disparities have been unsuccessful. Between ages 45 and 65, blacks are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from stroke than whites, but we haven’t known why.

Now the mystery is being solved, and we now know that half the disparity can be explained by traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and heart disease.

To learn more, read:  REGARDS Study Identifies Stroke Risk Factors That Account for Half of Racial Disparity