Heart Disease and Black/African Americans

Heart disease is a term for several conditions that affect how well the heart works. These conditions make it harder for the heart to transport blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the rest of the body. The most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease, where the blood supply to the heart is blocked due to a buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries. For some people, the first sign of this disease is a heart attack. High blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, and smoking are major risk factors for heart disease. Other health conditions and lifestyle habits can also raise the risk, such as diabetes, obesity, an unhealthy diet, not getting enough physical activity, and drinking alcohol. Eating healthy foods, staying physically active, and managing stress can help lower your risk of heart disease.

  • In 2024, Black/African American adults were 18% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have coronary heart disease.

  • In 2022, Black/African Americans were 35% more likely than the U.S. population overall to die from major heart and blood vessel diseases.

  • In 2024, Black/African American adults were 11% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have high cholesterol.

Additional Resources

MedlinePlus

Related Data

Further Reading

Occurrence

Coronary heart disease among adults ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
4.15.00.82
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 PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
Male377.0272.41.38
Female244.5182.01.34
Both Sexes301.0223.01.35
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

Adults ages 18 and over who have high cholesterol, percentage, 2024
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
21.023.70.89
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.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.


Date Last Reviewed: August 2026