For the study, researchers examined differences in stroke mortality among an ethnically and demographically diverse participant group of nearly 30,000 individuals over the age of 45. Researchers found that fatality rates after a stroke were not significantly disparate between whites and blacks, but that the rate of occurrence varied greatly.
These results suggest that preventative measures should be taken reduce racial disparity in regards to the incidence of stroke. Members of the black community are more likely to be affected by conditions that exacerbate the risk of stroke like high blood pressure and diabetes.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, funded the research.
Claudia Moy, PhD, acting director of the Office of Clinical Research at NINDS, and one of the study authors, said, “This study shows that improved risk factor prevention and management is critical if we are going to reduce the apparent increased risk of stroke and stroke mortality in blacks.”
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