Cardiovascular health among African-Americans: a review of the health status, risk reduction, and intervention strategies.
BACKGROUND
This article reviews the literature of African-American risk and identifies the disparity in cardiovascular health status, particularly hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and cigarette smoking, and mortality rates between African-Americans and whites.


METHODS
Data on African-Americans' knowledge and attitudes toward preventing hypertension and heart disease are summarized and compared to that of whites.


RESULTS
Program implementation details such as communication channels, activities, and health outcomes in cardiovascular risk reduction programs in African-American communities are summarized.


CONCLUSIONS
Promising approaches to program planning and implementation for cardiovascular risk reduction among African-Americans are recommended.
Department of Health Education, Ithaca College, New York 14850.
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D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology