Where to Focus Efforts to Reduce the Black–White Disparity in Stroke Mortality: Incidence Versus Case Fatality?

Stroke, 1 July 2016

Background and Purpose—At age 45 years, blacks have a stroke mortality ≈3× greater than their white counterparts, with a declining disparity at older ages. We assess whether this black–white disparity in stroke mortality is attributable to a black–white disparity in stroke incidence versus a disparity in case fatality. …

Conclusions—These findings show that the black–white differences in stroke mortality are largely driven by differences in stroke incidence, with case fatality playing at most a minor role. Therefore, to reduce the black–white disparity in stroke mortality, interventions need to focus on prevention of stroke in blacks. Read more.