What's Killing You?

African Americans

Cancer

In 2002, African American men were 1.5 times as likely to have new cases of lung and prostate cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
African American men were 1.5 times as likely to have new cases of stomach cancer as non-Hispanic white men.
African Americans men had lower 5-year cancer survival rates for lung and pancreatic cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
In 2001, African American men were 2.4 times as likely to die from prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
In 2002, African American women were 10% less likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, however, they were 30% more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
In 2002, African American women were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and they were 2.3 times as likely to die from stomach cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.

Diabetes

African American adults were 2.1 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
In 2002, African American men were 2.1 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, compared to non-Hispanic white men.
In 2003, diabetic African Americans were 1.8 times as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized.
In 2003, African Americans were 2.1 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

Infant Mortality

In 2003, African Americans had 2.4 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites.
African American infants were almost 4 times as likely to die from causes related to low birthweight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
African Americans had 2.2 times the sudden infant death syndrome mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
African American mothers were twice as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.

Heart Disease

In 2003, African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
African Americans were 1.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure.
African American women were 1.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be obese.

Immunization

In 2004, African Americans aged 65 and older were 30% less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months, compared to non-Hispanic whites of the same age group.
In 2005, African American adults aged 65 and older were 30% less likely to have ever received the pneumonia shot, compared to non-Hispanic white adults of the same age group.
Although African American children aged 19 to 35 months had comparable rates of immunization for hepatitis, influenza, MMR, and polio, they were slightly less likely to be fully immunized, when compared to non-Hispanic white children.

Infant Mortality

In 2003, African Americans had 2.4 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites.
African American infants were almost 4 times as likely to die from causes related to low birthweight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
African Americans had 2.2 times the sudden infant death syndrome mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
African American mothers were twice as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.

HIV/AIDS

Although African Americans make up only 13% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 50% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2004.
African American males had more than 8 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white males.
African American females had more than 22 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white females.
African American men were more than 9 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white men.
African American women were more than 21 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white women.