The major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking, excessive body weight, and physical inactivity. The greatest potential for reducing coronary heart disease morbidity, disability, and mortality appears to be in prevention, by addressing these risk factors. Major disparities exist among population groups, with a disproportionate burden of death and disability from cardiovascular disease in minority and low-income populations. Compared with rates for whites, coronary heart disease mortality was 40 percent lower for Asian Americans but 40 percent higher for blacks in 1995. Stroke is the only leading cause of death for which mortality is higher for Asian-American males than for white males.
Disparities also exist in the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Racial and ethnic minorities have higher rates of hypertension, tend to develop hypertension at an earlier age, and are less likely to undergo treatment to control their high blood pressure. When age differences are taken into account, Mexican-American men and women also have elevated blood pressure rates. Infant mortality rates vary substantially among and within racial and ethnic groups. Infant death rates among blacks, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Hispanics in 1995 or 1996 were all above the national average of 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. About 1.4 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 1997, and approximately 7.4 million Americans have or have had cancer.