Age-specific excess deaths associated with stroke among racial/ethnic minority populations--United States, 1997.

Stroke was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 1997. During 1950-1996, age-standardized stroke death rates declined 70% for the entire U.S. population; however, the decline varied among racial/ethnic populations. The estimated number of stroke deaths by race/ethnicity and age illustrate the differences in stroke mortality that may be used to direct prevention efforts. This report presents an analysis of stroke mortality by age and racial/ethnic group; the findings indicate that for persons aged 35-64 years, excess stroke deaths and higher risk for stroke mortality occurred among members of U.S. racial/ethnic minority populations than among the non-Hispanic white population.