Differences in Geographic Patterns of Absolute and Relative Black–White Disparities in Stroke Mortality in the United States

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Map A shows that the highest absolute and relative Black–White disparities in stroke mortality among US adults aged 35–64 years have markedly different geographic patterns. Counties in the top quartile (top 25%) of absolute racial disparities are located primarily within the Stroke Belt, where stroke death rates are highest for both Black populations and White populations (Map B). Counties in the top quartile of relative racial disparities are often located outside the Stroke Belt. Efforts to eliminate Black–White disparities in stroke mortality would benefit from taking both absolute and relative measures of disparity into consideration.

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Map A shows county-level stroke death rates for Black populations aged 35 to 64 years, and Map B shows county-level stroke death rates for White populations aged 35 to 64 years. Quartile cutpoints are based on the race-specific distributions of stroke death rates per 100,000 population. Only counties that met the inclusion criteria for the study are included on the maps.

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