Affiliation:
1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Dornsife School of Public Health Drexel University Philadelphia PA
2. Department of Biostatistics School of Public Health University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
3. Department of Medicine Larner College of Medicine University of Vermont Colchester VT
Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular health (
CVH
) disparities between blacks and whites have persisted in the United States for some time, and although there have been remarkable improvements in addressing cardiovascular disease, it still remains the leading cause of death in the United States. In addition, well‐documented disparities are unfortunately widening incidence gaps across certain regions of the United States. Our focus was on answering the following questions: (1) How much spatial heterogeneity exists in the racial differences in
CVH
between blacks and whites across this country? and (2) Is the spatial heterogeneity in the racial differences significantly explained by living in the Stroke Belt?
Methods and Results
To explore the spatial patterning in the racial differences in
CVH
between blacks and whites across the country, we used geographically weighted regression methods, which result in local estimates of the racial differences in
CVH
. Using data from the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) Study, we found significant spatial patterning in these racial differences, even beyond the well‐known Stroke Belt and Stroke Buckle. All of the estimated differences indicated blacks consistently having diminishing
CVH
compared with whites, where this difference was largely noted in pockets of the Stroke Belt and Stroke Buckle, in addition to moderate to large disparities noted in the Great Lakes region, portions of the Northeast, and along the West coast.
Conclusions
Efforts to improve
CVH
and ultimately reduce disparities between blacks and whites require culturally competent methods, with a strong focus on geography‐based interventions and policies.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cited by
14 articles.
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