Title: Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: AHA Statement - American College of Cardiology
Headings: Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: AHA Statement
Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: AHA Statement
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Content: Similarly, obesity rates are higher among African Americans. Among the reasons for increased obesity include the cultural attitudes of favor for a larger body size, particularly for women, and diet of high-fat meats and deep-frying cooking with excess calories and salt, and decrease in leisure time physical activity. African Americans have an excess burden of chronic kidney disease, owning in part to the high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, but that may also be the result of the percent of African admixture and other genetic factors including sickle cell trait. Lipids per se underestimate CVD risk in African Americans in younger cohorts. However, the relative risk of dyslipidemia in African Americans compared to whites increases with age. Undertreatment with statins in African Americans requires specific attention by providers and increased adherence by patients. Mortality from all CVD is significantly higher in African Americans as compared with whites, which suggests a role for healthcare to mitigate disparities with comprehensive screening, an enhanced specificity of diagnoses, and tailored disease management. The prominence of disparities in the onset of CVD at younger ages highlights the contribution of CV risk factors and adverse health behaviors among African Americans. Guidelines for pharmacologic management of CVD in African Americans do not differ from management in other race/ethnic groups. However, there are two notable exceptions, heart failure with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and hypertension, where African American patients may benefit from tailored treatment approaches.