Public Health Aspects of Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest Among Elderly African-Americans.
In the U.S., the ethnic minority populations of elderly Americans are growing faster than the elderly population as a whole. It has been estimated that by the year 2030, minority elders will make up one-fourth of all elderly Americans. Among minority populations, African-Americans are at the highest risk for CHD and SCA. Approximately two-thirds of all out-of-hospital SCA cases are 65 years of age and older. The rate of a bystander initiated CPR as well as the rate of survival after out-of-hospital SCA is significantly lower among blacks than among whites. Studies have shown that racial differences in outcomes of out-of-hospital SCA cannot be fully explained by features of collapse or relevant service factors and that the underlying socioeconomic and health status of the minority population are factors likely to affect outcome of SCA. Most minority populations in the U. S. have a poorer socioeconomic and health status and access to the health care system than their white counterparts. SCA, as a leading cause of mortality, has been found to be associated with socioeconomic status and has been identified as a key area in which to study minority populations. This brief review summarizes public health aspects of SCA among elderly African-Americans with suggestions for new research and preventive interventions needs.
Demirovic
Jasenka
J
Departments of Epidemiology and Public Health and Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL.