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[PD-2] Seeking the Causes for the Racial Disparities in Stroke Mortality: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) StudyVirginia Howard, MSPH, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Virginia J. Howard, Margaret S. Stewart, and George Howard for the REGARDS Investigators
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dept of Epidemiology, 1665 University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0022
Differences in stroke mortality are the largest contributor to African American (AA) versus white disparity in life expectancy. In the age group 45 to 64, the risk of stroke death is over 3 times greater for AA than whites, and 2/3rds of the excess stroke deaths among AAs occur below age 65. While there are many hypotheses to explain these disparities, the reason(s) remain a mystery. Without this knowledge, it is not clear where resources should be allocated to reduce the racial disparities.
The NIH-NINDS funded REGARDS study will recruit a nationwide population-based cohort of 30,000 individuals over the age of 55, with one-half being AA and one-half white. REGARDS will assess racial differences in the incidence of stroke, the prevalence of stroke risk factors, susceptibility to risk factors, and case fatality. REGARDS is completing a pilot study prior to the onset of the major cohort. The study employs a novel epidemiological approach with a centralized telephone interview (for medical and personal history) and an in-home visit (for the collection of physical measures, ECG and blood draw). Once the cohort is in place, it offers an approach and environment for the evaluation of racial differences in other diseases.
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Date: July 10-12, 2002
Location: Hilton Hotel & Towers, Washington, DC
Sponsor: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health / Office of Public Health and Science
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