While CHD Incidence and Outcomes Improve, Racial Disparities Persist

Differences in incidence and outcomes of CHD between blacks and whites appear to be associated with a greater burden of risk factors.

Persistent racial disparities in coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence and mortality are well established. However, recent increases in statin use and the capability to identify very small but significant elevations in cardiac troponin levels have had substantial effects on CHD incidence and outcomes. To assess the effects of these changes on racial differences in CHD risk and events, investigators for the REGARDS cohort study conducted an analysis involving 24,443 individuals without baseline CHD. Participants underwent physical and laboratory evaluation on enrollment and telephone surveillance (with adjudicated confirmation of reported events) every 6 months thereafter.

At baseline, CHD risk factors were more prevalent in black participan…

Reviewing Author

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardUnited Healthcare; Element Science; Eyedentifeye, F-Prime

EquityHugo Health; Refactor Health; Element Science

Grant/Research SupportPfizer; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Janssen Research and Development, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Cancer Institute; American Heart Association

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardUnited Healthcare; Element Science; Eyedentifeye, F-Prime

EquityHugo Health; Refactor Health; Element Science