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Published on: January 8, 2020

Racial differences in mortality from cardiovascular disease in Atlanta, 1979-1985

J F Sung1, S A Harris-Hooker, G Schmid

  • 1Dept. of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310-1495.

Journal of the National Medical Association
|March 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Blacks experienced higher mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly hypertension and stroke, compared to whites in Atlanta. This elevated risk was most pronounced in younger age groups for all four major CVD causes studied.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Disease Research

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
  • Racial disparities in health outcomes, including CVD, are well-documented in the United States.
  • Understanding age- and race-specific CVD mortality patterns is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate racial differences in mortality from major cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, stroke, ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis) in the Atlanta metropolitan population.
  • To analyze age-specific and age-adjusted mortality rates between black and white populations.
  • To identify specific CVDs and age groups disproportionately affected by mortality in the black population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of mortality data from the Atlanta metropolitan population between 1979 and 1985.
  • Analysis of 22,585 deaths attributed to hypertension, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and atherosclerosis.
  • Comparison of age-specific and age-adjusted mortality rates between black and white individuals.

Main Results:

  • Black individuals constituted 21.3% of CVD deaths, while whites accounted for 78.7%, despite comprising 28% of the population in 1980.
  • Blacks exhibited over 200% higher age-adjusted mortality rates for hypertension compared to whites, with a tenfold excess risk in the 30-49 age group.
  • Excess mortality risk from stroke was observed in blacks under 75, while ischemic heart disease and atherosclerosis showed excess risk in younger to middle-aged black men and women.

Conclusions:

  • Black populations in Atlanta faced significantly higher mortality risks from hypertension and stroke across various age groups compared to white populations during 1979-1985.
  • Elevated risks for ischemic heart disease and atherosclerosis were noted in younger and middle-aged black individuals.
  • These findings underscore a critical need for age-tailored public health strategies to address racial disparities in cardiovascular disease mortality.

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