Stroke Mortality and Stroke Hospitalizations: Racial Differences and Similarities in the Geographic Patterns of High Burden Communities Among Older Adults

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These maps highlight notable differences in the geographic pattern of stroke hospitalization rates for Black older adults compared with the prevailing patterns of high rates in the Southeast for stroke mortality (Black and White older adults) and stroke hospitalization among White older adults. Stroke death rates in the top quartile for both Black adults and White adults aged 65 years or older overlapped considerably: 63% of counties were in the top quartile for both Black and White older adults. The maps also highlight counties with the greatest stroke burden for both Black and White older adults and can help tailor programs and policies to the needs of communities with the highest burden.

The 2 maps show the top quartiles of county-level race-specific stroke death rates (Map A) and hospitalization rates (Map B) among Black and White adults aged ≥65 years during 2018–2020. Source: The Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke (4).

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The maps depict quartiles of stroke death rates (Maps A and B) for Black and White adults aged ≥65 years during 2018–2020 and hospitalization rates (Maps C and D) for Black adults and White adults aged ≥65 years who were Medicaid patients during 2018–2020. Median county-level stroke hospitalization rates were 1,590 and 1,120 hospitalizations per 100,000 population for older Black and White adults, respectively. The median county-level absolute Black–White disparity in stroke hospitalization rates was 410 hospitalizations per 100,000, and the median relative disparity was 1.4.

The top maps show county-level stroke death rates for Black adults (Map A) and White adults (Map B) aged ≥65 years, and the bottom maps show county-level stroke hospitalization rates for Black (Map C) and White (Map D) Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years. Quartile cut points are based on the race-specific distributions of stroke death rates or hospitalization rates (respectively) per 100,000 population. Counties had to meet the inclusion criteria to be included on the maps. Source: The Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke (4).

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