Black Men at Greater Risk of Heart Disease

L I T T L E   R O C K, June 20 -- Black men in Arkansas die from heart diseaseat greater rates than men of other races in the state, according toa new report.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along withWest Virginia University released the report today.

"Men and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and EthnicDisparities in Mortality" gives a breakdown of heart disease deathrates among American men, 35 and older, between 1991 and 1995.

According to the report, black men in Arkansas died of heartdisease at a rate of 923 deaths for every 100,000 black men. Therate was fifth highest in the nation.

Maine had the highest rate at 1,069 per 100,000 black men.Mississippi had the second highest with 1,028 per 100,000. Thenational rate was 841 per 100,000.

Among white men in Arkansas, the rate was 715 per 100,000, or12th highest in the nation.

"The atlas is alarming," said Dr. Creshelle R. Nash of theArkansas Center for Health Involvement, a health policy group."There's a clear disparity there.

"But it's telling us stuff we already know: Arkansans are inworse health than the nation, minorities are in worse health, poorpeople are in worse health."

Among all races in Arkansas, 732 out of every 100,000 men diedof heart disease, also the 12th highest rate in the country. Thenational average was 675 per 100,000.

The report mirrors findings from a companion study released lastyear on heart disease among women in the same age range, who have adeath rate of 401 per 100,000.

Nash said public health practitioners must find ways to addressthe causes of Arkansas' heart disease rates. "Health has to be apriority [in Arkansas], and I think we're moving toward that," shesaid.

The high rates in Arkansas can be attributed to high-riskactivities, a lack of education and opportunity, a lack of accessto health care, and poverty, she said.

"People without money have different priorities," Nash said."We have to teach them that you can have a better quality of lifeif you're healthy."