RACIAL-DIFFERENCES IN RISK-FACTORS FOR ATHEROSCLEROSIS - THE ARIC STUDY

This paper describes black/white differences in risk factors for ather osclerosis in the large multicenter Atherosclerosis Risk in Communitie s (ARIC) Project sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Inst itute. It is based on data collected at baseline in ARIC's four geogra phically distinct clinical centers. Participants were randomly selecte d (4264 black and 11,479 white men and women, ages forty-five to sixty -four years at entry). There were striking differences in obesity betw een black and white women, higher fasting glucose and greater prevalen ce of diabetes in blacks, and lower high-density lipoprotein values in white men. Not unexpectedly, blood pressure in black participants exc eeded that in whites. Clustering of multiple risk factors was more com mon in the black population. Conversely, prevalence of no risk factors was greatest among whites. In conclusion, while African-Americans and Caucasians share much the same group of risk factors for atherosclero sis, there are clinically important racial differences in emphasis.