This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gillum, R. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gillum, R. F.

(Stroke. 1995;26:514-521.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

The Epidemiology of Stroke in Native Americans

Richard F. Gillum, MD

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md.

Background and Purpose Because of the paucity of published information, this report seeks to better characterize the pattern of stroke occurrence and risk factors among Native Americans in the United States.

Methods Data from the US Vital Statistics System and two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed.

Results Stroke was a leading cause of death among US Native Americans in 1990. In persons aged 45 and over, stroke was the cause of 6% of deaths in Native Americans and 7% of deaths in whites. The percentage of stroke deaths due to hemorrhagic stroke was higher in Native Americans than whites. In 1988 through 1990, stroke death rates were similar in Native Americans and whites under age 65 but lower in Native Americans at ages 65 years and over. High prevalence of diabetes, smoking, and obesity may contribute to stroke mortality in Native Americans.

Conclusions Targeted research, innovative analyses of existing data, and use of ongoing surveys and the Census should be considered in the study of the epidemiology of stroke, other leading causes of death, and risk factors in Native Americans. Continued hypertension detection and treatment efforts are needed for Native Americans as for other groups. Smoking cessation and prevention should receive high priority in Native American populations.

Key Words: cerebrovascular disorders • Indians, North American • racial differences • risk factors

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Zhang, J. M. Galloway, T. K. Welty, D. O. Wiebers, J. P. Whisnant, R. B. Devereux, J. R. Kizer, B. V. Howard, L. D. Cowan, J. Yeh, et al. Incidence and Risk Factors for Stroke in American Indians: The Strong Heart Study Circulation, October 7, 2008; 118(15): 1577 - 1584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. S. Harwell, C. S. Oser, N. J. Okon, C. C. Fogle, S. D. Helgerson, and D. Gohdes Defining Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease for American Indians: Trends in Heart Disease and Stroke Mortality Among American Indians and Whites in Montana, 1991 to 2000 Circulation, October 11, 2005; 112(15): 2263 - 2267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Stansbury, H. Jia, L. S. Williams, W. B. Vogel, and P. W. Duncan Ethnic Disparities in Stroke: Epidemiology, Acute Care, and Postacute Outcomes Stroke, February 1, 2005; 36(2): 374 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Ayala, J. B. Croft, K. J. Greenlund, N. L. Keenan, R. S. Donehoo, A. M. Malarcher, and G. A. Mensah Sex Differences in US Mortality Rates for Stroke and Stroke Subtypes by Race/Ethnicity and Age, 1995-1998 Stroke, May 1, 2002; 33(5): 1197 - 1201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Yusuf, S. Reddy, S. Ounpuu, and S. Anand Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases: Part II: Variations in Cardiovascular Disease by Specific Ethnic Groups and Geographic Regions and Prevention Strategies Circulation, December 4, 2001; 104(23): 2855 - 2864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Pahor, M. B. Elam, R. J. Garrison, S. B. Kritchevsky, and W. B. Applegate Emerging Noninvasive Biochemical Measures to Predict Cardiovascular Risk Arch Intern Med, February 8, 1999; 159(3): 237 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Bruno Are There Differences in Vascular Disease Between Ethnic and Racial Groups? Stroke, January 1, 1998; 29(1): 2 - 3. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Frey, H. K. Jahnke, and E. W. Bulfinch Differences in Stroke Between White, Hispanic, and Native American Patients : The Barrow Neurological Institute Stroke Database Stroke, January 1, 1998; 29(1): 29 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Gillum and C. T. Sempos The End of the Long-term Decline in Stroke Mortality in the United States? Stroke, August 1, 1997; 28(8): 1527 - 1529. [Full Text]

				R. L. Sacco, E. J. Benjamin, J. P. Broderick, M. Dyken, J. D. Easton, W. M. Feinberg, L. B. Goldstein, P. B. Gorelick, G. Howard, S. J. Kittner, et al. Risk Factors Stroke, July 1, 1997; 28(7): 1507 - 1517. [Full Text]

				R. F. Gillum Epidemiology of Stroke in Hispanic Americans Stroke, September 1, 1995; 26(9): 1707 - 1712. [Abstract] [Full Text]