African Americans accounted for 22 percent of total AIDS deaths, while comprising 12 percent of the total population of 272 million people. AIDS is the leading cause of death among African Americans between the ages of 25-44. Black men have the second highest rate of AIDS cases at 170,141 reported through 1997, compared to White men at 264,652 and Hispanic men at 93,584. AIDS cases and African American children represent 58 percent of the cumulative pediatric AIDS cases. Loss of estrogen results in increased risk for osteoporosis, the loss of bone density.
Osteoporosis occurs later in life for African American women than for White women.
Cardiovascular disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among African American women, caused generally by high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Studies are needed to address the issue of cardiovascular and HRT and African American women.