Cardiovascular Health and Healthcare Use of United States-Born and African-Born Blacks: A Review.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. The prevalence of hypertension, a known risk factor for developing CVD, is the highest in the world for U. S. -born
Blacks. To date, researchers do not have a definitive explanation for why Blacks in the United States are more predisposed to worse cardiovascular outcomes than their White counterparts. Major
differences in cardiovascular outcomes have also been observed among people of African-born origin when compared to U. S.-born Blacks. Specifically, traditional African populations show a
low prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, obesity, physical activity, smoking status, and diet.
Hence, it remains instructive to look at non-genetic factors that might account for the CVD disparities experienced by African-origin Blacks residing in the United States. This critical literature review appraised existing studies that examined cardiovascular health in African-born Blacks compared to U.S. -born Blacks, as well as associations between healthcare utilization and cardiovascular health for these populations.
Despite the findings listed above, no study to date has comparatively analyzed the association between healthcare utilization and cardiovascular health among African-born and U.S.-born
Blacks. Therefore, this critical literature review sought out existing studies that examined cardiovascular health in African-born Blacks compared to U.S.-born Blacks and any reports on the associations between healthcare utilization for those groups and cardiovascular health outcomes.
The studies comparing Black Africans living in their country of origin lacked information on cardiovascular health factors other than BMI and hypertension and thus did not allow for a
complete health profile of African-born Blacks.
Heart Res Open J. 2021; 8(1): 8-17. doi: 10.17140/HROJ-8-157
