News - Hypertension Week of Feb. 23, 2003/ Vol. 2 No. 08

Report Highlights Racial Disparities in Stroke Deaths

A new report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights a large divide separating African-Americans and other races in the United States when it comes to stroke deaths.

The Atlas of Stroke Mortality report found that African-Americans are 1.4 times more likely to die of a stroke than whites, and more than twice as likely as Hispanics and Native Americans to die of stroke.

African-Americans are also more likely to die of stroke at an earlier age than other racial and ethnic groups. Among African-Americans, almost half of stroke deaths occurred before age 75, compared to 45 percent for Asians and Pacific Islanders, and 25 percent of stroke deaths among whites.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said prevention is the key. All Americans should know the signs and symptoms of a stroke, have their blood pressure measured and controlled and engage in activities that can reduce their risk of stroke including quitting smoking, being physically active and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, he added.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC director, said the large disparities in the report show that the scientific knowledge about the prevention of stroke is not yet being applied widely enough to communities. She said the report provides health professionals and policy-makers an essential tool to target stroke prevention programs.

The Atlas reports that the overall stroke death rate for adults ages 35 and older was 121 per 100,000 from 1991 to 1998. Stroke death rates for states ranged from a high of 169 per 100,000 in South Carolina to a low of 89 per 100,000 in New York State. On average, stroke death rates fell only 0.8 percent per year during 1991-1998.

Other Sources: CDC