Cardiovascular Disease and Health Disparities
Overall, minority and low-income populations have a disproportionate burden of death and disability from cardiovascular disease. African-Americans have the highest rate of high blood pressure of all groups and tend to develop it younger than others. Studies have shown that socioeconomic status, reflected in income and education, accounts for a substantial portion of the higher rate of heart disease in minority populations.
Source: http://wwwcdc.gov/omhd/AMH/factsheets/cardo.htm
Office of minority Health and Health Disparities, Centers for Disease Control
Diabetes
Diabetes strikes American Indian communities with far greater frequency and severity than any other racial or ethnic group. However, African-Americans and Latinos also develop diabetes at a higher rate than whites. This has important implications for the overall health of these groups, because individuals with diabetes face a much higher risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and blindness.
Source: Families USA: The voice for Health Care Consumers
http://familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/minority-health-tool-kit/Quick-Facts-Health.pdf
Cancer
Cancer affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. However, there are disparities between groups. African-Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial and ethnic group. Additionally, certain racial/ethnic groups experience higher rates of specific cancers than other groups. Many of the differences in cancer incidence and mortality rates among racial and ethnic groups may be due to factors associated with incomes levels rather than ethnicity. Socioeconomic status also appears to play a major role in the differences between cancer incidence, mortality rates and screening prevalence among racial and ethnic minorities.
Although deaths caused by breast cancer have decreased among white women, African-American women continue to have higher rates of mortality from breast and cervical cancer. The disproportionate burden may be because many African-American women haven’t received regular mammograms, pap tests or follow-up treatment. Limited access to health care services and language and cultural barriers are primary reasons for the low rate of screening and treatment for Latinos, American Indians or Alaska natives, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islander women. Men in African-American populations also have more cancers of the lung, prostate, colon and rectum than do white men. Overall, African-Americans have more maliganant tumors and are less likely to survive cancer than the general population.
Sources:
First Paragraph: http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=19%20
Office of Minority Health, US Dept of Health & Human Services
Second Paragraph: http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/AMH/factsheets/cancer.htm%20
Office of Health and Health Disparities, Centers for Disease Control