Local increases in coronary heart disease mortality among blacks and whites in the United States, 1985-1995.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality trends from 1985 to 1995, by race and sex, among Black and White adults 35 years and older to determine whether adverse trends were evident in any US localities.


METHODS
Log-linear regression models of annual age-adjusted death rates provided a quantitative measure of local mortality trends.


RESULTS
Increasing trends in CHD mortality were observed in 11 of 174 labor market areas for Black women, 23 of 175 areas for Black men, 10 of 394 areas for White women, and 4 of 394 areas for White men. Nationwide, adverse trends affected 1.7% of Black women, 8.0% of Black men, 1.1% of White women, and 0.3% of White men.


CONCLUSIONS
From 1985 to 1995, moderate to strong local increases in CHD mortality were observed, predominantly in the southern United States. Black men evidenced the most unfavorable trends and were 25 times as likely as White men to be part of a local population experiencing increases in coronary heart disease mortality.
Barnett
E
E
Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. ebarnett@hsc.usf.edu
Halverson
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D003644:Death Certificates; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*