In 1997, heart disease was the leading cause of death and stroke was the third leading
cause of death among U.S. adults (1), affecting approximately 726,974 and 159,791 persons,
respectively (1). A high proportion of these deaths can be prevented by reducing or
controlling risk factors, including smoking, physical inactivity, dietary intake of
cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure (2). In conjunction with American
Heart Month, this issue of MMWR includes a report that describes excess stroke
deaths among U.S. adults by age and racial/ethnic group.
During February, CDC-funded state cardiovascular health programs and their partners
will highlight prevention programs that use culturally appropriate approaches to reduce
the level of disparity in heart disease and stroke. For example, two counties in North
Carolina are using policy and environmental changes to improve nutrition and to increase
physical activity in the black community. In New York, the Healthy Heart Program and its
local partners are sponsoring a campaign in two urban areas to encourage blacks and others
to switch to low-fat or fat-free milk.
Hoyert DL, Kochanek KD, Murphy SL. Deaths: final data for 1997. National Vital
Statistics Reports; vol 47, no. 19. Hyattsville, Maryland: US Department of Health and
Human Services, CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 1999.
Grundy SM, Balady GJ, Criqui MH, et al. Guide to primary prevention of cardiovascular
diseases. Circulation 1997;95:2329-31.
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to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations
or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not
responsible for the content of pages found at these sites.
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