Demographic and Biological Influences on Survival in Whites and Blacks
Author Information
Author(s): Paul J. Nietert, Susan E. Sutherland, Julian E. Keil, David L. Bachman
Primary Institution: Medical University of South Carolina
Hypothesis
Does socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease risk factors explain the disparity in life expectancy between blacks and whites?
Conclusion
The differences in mortality between blacks and whites can largely be explained by socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Supporting Evidence
- Life expectancy is significantly lower among blacks than whites in the U.S.
- Socioeconomic status accounts for a significant portion of the black excess in mortality.
- Higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among blacks contributes to excess mortality.
Takeaway
This study looked at why black people tend to live shorter lives than white people and found that money and health problems are big reasons.
Methodology
The study analyzed 40 years of mortality data from a cohort of 2,283 subjects, examining the influence of socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease risk factors on all-cause mortality.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to the inclusion of a high SES cohort of black men who may have been healthier at baseline.
Limitations
Key socioeconomic indicators and cardiovascular risk factors were not measured for all participants, and the inclusion of high SES black men may have introduced selection bias.
Participant Demographics
The cohort included 647 white men, 728 white women, 423 black men, and 443 black women.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
HR for white ethnicity: 1.14 (0.98 to 1.32) for men and 0.90 (0.75 to 1.08) for women.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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