Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Ethnic disparity in stroke rates persists

Strokes can cross the boundaries of race, ethnicity, sex, age, and income. However, some groups do have higher stroke rates. A recent story shows that ethnic disparity in stroke rates persists:
Ischemic stroke rates declined over an 11-year period in Corpus Christi, Texas, but rates remained elevated in Mexican Americans relative to their non-Hispanic white neighbors, researchers found. ...
"Although the declining ischemic stroke incidence in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites is encouraging, the persistent disparity in young stroke patients, who suffer the longest from post-stroke disability, indicates a need for additional prevention efforts targeting young Mexican Americans and communities with large minority populations," they wrote.
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently published goals and objectives for reducing health disparities, although specific action plans remain elusive," they added.

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