Stroke and African Americans
- African Americans are 50 percent more likely to have a stroke (cerebrovascular disease), as compared to their white adult counterparts.
- Black men are 70 percent more likely to die from a stroke as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
- African American women are twice as likely to have a stroke as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
Diagnosed Cases of Stroke:
| Age-adjusted percentage of stroke among persons 18 years of age and over, 2018 | |||
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 |
| Women | 4.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| Total | 4.0 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
Source: CDC 2021. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-1a.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm
Death Rate:
| Age-adjusted stroke death rates per 100,000 (2018) | |||
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 59.0 | 35.7 | 1.7 |
| Women | 48.0 | 35.6 | 1.3 |
| Total | 53.0 | 36.0 | 1.7 |
Source: CDC 2021. National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 69, No. 13. Table 10.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-13-508.pdf [PDF | 2.05MB]
Risk Factors:
There are several risk factors related to stroke. Some of these risk factors are:
Obesity and Overweight – See Obesity and African Americans
Hypertension – See Heart Disease and African Americans
High Cholesterol – See Heart Disease and African Americans
Cigarette Smoking – See Heart Disease and African Americans
Last Edited: 02/11/2021