CDC Releases National Cardiovascular Disease Rates Among Minorities, States
Asians have the lowest rate of heart disease, while American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest rate, according to state-specific data on U.S. residents with cardiovascular disease released Thursday by CDC, HealthDay/Washington Post reports. The results, which are published in the Feb. 16 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, were based on an analysis of 2005 data collected through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a random phone survey of adults conducted by state and territorial health departments. According to the report, 4.7% of Asians have heart disease, compared with 11.2% of American Indians/Alaska Natives, 6.9% of whites, 6.2% of blacks and 6.2% of Hispanics. Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii and Montana were among the states with the lowest rates, while Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky and Louisiana were among the highest. Jonathan Neyer, lead author of the study and a CDC epidemiologist, in a statement said, "We hope this report will help states and U.S. territories better tailor their heart disease prevention efforts" (HealthDay/Washington Post, 2/15).
The report is available online.