Heart Disease and Black/African Americans

In 2024, Black or African American adults were diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) 26% more frequently than the total population.1
From 2017–2020, Black or African American adults with high blood pressure had their blood pressure under control 18% less frequently than the total population with high blood pressure.2
In 2022, non-Hispanic Black people died from heart disease 35% more frequently than the total population.

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Occurrence

Coronary heart disease among adults ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
4.1	5.0	0.82

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults: Percentage of coronary heart disease for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mortality

Death due to major cardiovascular disease, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2022
	Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
Male	377.0	272.4	1.38
Female	244.5	182.0	1.34
Both Sexes	301.0	223.0	1.35

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Deaths: Final data for 2022 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 4, Table 11). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Risk Factors for Complications

Hypertension

Adults ages 18 and over who have high blood pressure (diagnosed hypertension), percentage, 2024
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
34.5	27.3	1.26

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults: Percentage of diagnosed hypertension for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adults with hypertension whose blood pressure is under control, percentage, 2017–2020
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
13.2	16.1	0.82

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). National Health Interview Survey, Healthy People 2030: Adults with hypertension whose blood pressure is under control, 2017-20. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

High Cholesterol

Adults ages 18 and over who have high cholesterol, percentage, 2024
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
21.0	23.7	0.89

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults: Percentage of high cholesterol for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Cigarette Smoking

Adults ages 18 and over who are current cigarette smokers, percentage, 2022-2024
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
12.3	10.8	1.13

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults by detailed race and ethnicity: Percentage of current cigarette smoking for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2022-2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adults ages 18 and over who were current e-cigarette users, percentage, 2022-2024
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
5.1	6.5	0.79

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults by detailed race and ethnicity: Percentage of current electronic cigarette use for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2022-2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adult smokers who attempted to quit smoking in the past 12 months, percentage, 2022
Black*	Total Population White	Ratio (Black* / Total)
61.3	55.3	1.11

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). National Health Interview Survey, Healthy People 2030: Adult smokers attempting smoking cessation in past 12 months by Race/Ethnicity, 2020-2022. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.

1 CDC. National Center for Health Statistics. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults. Percentage of diagnosed hypertension for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. (Back to top)

2 CDC. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Healthy People 2030. Adults with hypertension whose blood pressure is under control by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-20. (Back to top)

Date Last Reviewed: January 2026