The paradox of coronary heart disease in African-American women.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. Much has been written on the ill effects of this disease in the general population; however, its ramifications in African-American women have been overlooked. Without a doubt, this group has a higher mortality and morbidity than African-American men and white women below the age of 55. Despite the lower angiographic prevalence of disease, when symptomatic coronary heart disease develops, the outlook is dismal. Today's research must concentrate on the ramifications of coronary heart disease in this population to improve the health standard of the general populace.