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: The origins of adult differences in hypertension begin in youth. African American boys and girls have higher blood pressure levels and a higher prevalence of hypertension. African Americans, however, are more likely than whites or Hispanics to be aware of their hypertension and have it treated. The magnitude of the association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels and stroke risk is 3 times greater in African Americans than in whites (10 mm Hg difference in SBP in whites is associated with an 8% increase in the stroke risk, but a 24% increase in African Americans). Diabetes is considerably more common in young African Americans through all ages. 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.