Cardiovascular Health Disparities
A racial/ethnic disparity is the difference, rate or burden of disease that exists between minorities and whites. For example, many racial and ethnic minorities (e.g. African-Americans, Hispanics, etc.) have greater death rates from heart disease than whites.
In South Carolina, African-Americans suffer excessively from cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) across all age groups and in all aspects of the disease. We are working with the DHEC Office of Minority Health to develop appropriate means for outreach and education in the African-American population throughout the state.
Did you know that in South Carolina:
- African-Americans are more than 40 percent more likely to die from stroke than Caucasians in South Carolina
- African-Americans face higher risks of developing ischemic heart disease and suffer stroke deaths more often than do Caucasians.
- African-American women are at greater risk of dying from stroke than Caucasian women in South Carolina.
Click here (pdf) to view a fact sheet on the burden of cardiovascular disease in African-Americans.