REGION OF BIRTH AND MORTALITY FROM CIRCULATORY DISEASES AMONG BLACK-AMERICANS

Objectives. This study examines the relationship between birthplace an d mortality from circulatory diseases among American Blacks. Methods. All Black deaths from circulatory diseases (International Classificati on of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes 390 through 459) were extracted fr om the National Center for Health Statistics mortality detail fries fo r 1979 through 1991. Age-specific and age-adjusted mortality rates wit h 95% confidence intervals were calculated for males and females for c ombinations of five regions of residence at birth and four regions of residence at death. Results. Males had higher mortality rates from cir culatory diseases than females in every regional combination of birthp lace and residence at death. For both genders. the highest rates were for those who were born in the South but died in the Midwest; the lowe st rates were for those who were born in the West but died in the Sout h. Excess mortality for both Southern-born males and females begins at ages 25 through 44. Conclusions. There is a region-of-birth component that affects mortality risk from circulatory diseases regardless of g ender or residence at time of death. We must examine how early life ex periences affect the development of circulatory disorders.