Health
New CDC report details stroke prevalence in all 50 states
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 4, 2007
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that stroke prevalence varies widely from state to state, with some having more than double the prevalence of others. The report, which appeared in the CDC's May 18 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, provides the first data on the percentage of stroke survivors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
High stroke rates -- at or above a prevalence of 3% -- were found in about one out of four states, as well as D.C. These include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.
Low stroke prevalence rates, less than a median of 2.6%, were found in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Prevalence of stroke was similar among men (2.7%) and women (2.5%). Rates among blacks (4%) were nearly twice as high as for whites (2.3%). American Indian/Alaska natives had the highest prevalence (6%), Asian populations the lowest (1.6%). And stroke prevalence was more than twice as high among people with fewer than 12 years of education (4.4%) compared with those who were college graduates (1.8%).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/06/04/hlbf0604.htm.
