Black Americans More Likely to Die from Lung CancerJanuary 30, 2002
Research Summary
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that black Americans die from lung cancer at a rate of 46 per 100,000, about 20 percent higher than for whites and more than three times the rate for Hispanics, Reuters reported Jan. 24.Federal officials noted that the findings indicate that racial disparities, which are linked to differences in smoking and eating habits, as well as varying access to health-care services, remain a big public-health problem.
In addition to lung cancer, blacks were more likely than any other racial group to die from heart disease and stroke. "Our goal is to eliminate disparities in health among all population groups by 2010," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
CDC Director Dr. Jeffrey Koplan added that the report validated the importance of targeting and tailoring public health campaigns to specific groups.
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