ELLEN BRANCH KAITLYN COLLINS LAUREN CHANDLER NOBLES A Comparative Display of Health Outcomes in Eastern North Carolina

Health Outcomes in Eastern N.C. A comparative display of health outcomes in Eastern North Carolina by category of race (white or non-white) and county  Counties were grouped by white, non-white, or evenly balanced (20% or less difference)  Non-white: African American, Asian, American Indian/ Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other, and 2 or more races Is there a correlation between a person being of a minority race (non-white) and having higher disease (or stroke) mortality rates?  Hypothesis: Being of a minority race (non-white) is positively correlated with a higher disease (or stroke) mortality rate.

Methodology Comparison Groups: White vs. non-white Data source: NC Health Data Explorer Measures: 1 year mortality rates per 100,000 in 2010 for 5 health indicators (white and non-white) 1. Heart disease 2. Cancer 3. Stroke 4. COPD 5. Diabetes  Rates were used instead of counts to allow comparison of health events between two populations. Counties of focus: counties in the Eastern N.C. region  Counties of particular focus include, but are not limited to: Tyrrell, Hertford, Washington, Hyde, Jones, Hoke, Perquimans, Currituck, Greene, Dare, Bertie, Pender, Camden

5 Indicators of Health According to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, the top five leading causes of death in Eastern N.C. are: heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and diabetes.  In place of cerebrovascular disease, stroke is used because it is classified as a cerebrovascular accident.  In place of chronic lower respiratory disease, COPD is used because it is a broad term for chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

County Groupings Mostly White (19)- Beaufort, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Harnett, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Perquimans Mostly Non-White (5)- Bertie, Edgecombe, Hertford, North Hampton, Robeson Evenly Balanced* (17)- Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, Greene, Halifax, Hoke, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Pasquotank, Pitt, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne, Wilson * +/- 20% population distribution

5 Indicators of Health: Heart Disease Heart Disease Minorities are at a greater risk for heart disease. African Americans and American Indians/Alaskan Natives are more likely than whites to have high blood pressure. Mexican Americans are more likely to be obese/overweight. Both are risk factors

Heart Disease Findings in Eastern N.C. Non-whites fare slightly worse than whites for heart disease mortality rates. Lowest: Hertford, New Hanover, Hoke, Pamlico, Pender Highest: Tyrrell, Martin, Scotland, Washington, Hyde Lowest: Hyde, Gates, Dare, Tyrrell, Bertie Highest: Washington, Martin, Columbus, Perquimans, Nash

5 Indicators of Health: Cancer Cancer Health care coverage and low socioeconomic status are the most obvious factors that contribute to health disparities in cancer among various racial and ethnic groups. African Americans have the highest rates of cancer.

Cancer Findings in Eastern N.C. Whites fare worse than non-whites for cancer mortality rates. Lowest: Pitt, Camden, Pamlico, Pender, Perquimans Highest: Tyrrell, Gates, Jones, Washington, Pasquotank Lowest: Dare, Tyrrell, Camden, Perquimans, Martin Highest: Wilson, Lenoir, Pitt, Carteret, Columbus

5 Indicators of Health: Stroke Stroke African Americans have a much higher risk of death from strokes than Whites. Higher risk of controllable risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes Uncontrollable risk factors include being African American, Hispanic, or Asian/ Pacific Islander.

Stroke Findings in Eastern N.C. Non-whites generally fare worse than whites for stroke mortality rates. Lowest: Hoke, Lenoir, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank Highest: Jones, Beaufort, Halifax, Greene, Edgecombe Lowest: Perquimans, Pamlico, Currituck, Scotland, Pender Highest: Hyde, Dare, Greene, Edgecombe, Camden

5 Indicators of Health: COPD COPD Age-adjusted death rates are higher among Whites and men. Whites have the highest rates for women, and Native American/Alaskan Native women are 2 nd. Hispanics have much lower rates than Whites and other racial groups.

COPD findings in Eastern N.C. Whites fare worse than non-whites for COPD mortality rates. Lowest: Greene, Perquimans, Hertford, Halifax, Bladen Highest: Currituck, Camden, Gates, Tyrrell, Martin Lowest: Hyde, Carteret, Washington, Currituck, Camden Highest: Dare, Gates, Scotland, Bladen, Tyrrell

5 Health Indicators: Diabetes Diabetes Being of a minority race, especially African American, makes a person at a significantly higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.  Blacks are 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes than whites.

Diabetes Findings in Eastern N.C. Non-whites fare much worse than whites for diabetes mortality rates. Lowest: Tyrrell, Washington, Currituck, Perquimans, Pamlico Highest: Bertie, Hertford, Robeson, Chowan, Hyde Lowest: Camden, Currituck, Pamlico, Carteret, Dare Highest: Pender, Tyrrell, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne

Conclusions 1. Whites fared worse than non-whites in regards to mortality rates for COPD and cancer. 2. Non-whites fared worse than whites in regards to mortality rates for diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. 3. Pender, Dare, Tyrrell, Perquimans, Pamlico, Camden, and Currituck counties were repeatedly (3 or more times) in the category with the LOWEST rates for various indicators.  All listed counties are mostly white, except Tyrrell. 4. Tyrrell, Martin, Scotland, Washington, Hyde, and Gates were repeatedly (3 or more times) in the category with the HIGHEST rates for various indicators.  A majority of these counties are evenly balanced. 5. Thus, overall non-whites suffer at a higher rate from the majority of the top five leading causes of death in Eastern N.C. than whites.

SOURCES chapters/copd.pdf gRisk/Understanding-Risk_UCM_308539_SubHomePage.jsp gRisk/Understanding-Risk_UCM_308539_SubHomePage.jsp &dq=copd+rates+in+minorities&source=bl&ots=s3EMGQ4E1T&sig=ZtsRjL R2nbFcfhIG0c5jLuVLFzM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1Et0UcP1MrWu4AOo1oGYBw& ved=0CHcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=copd%20rates%20in%20minorities&f=f alse &dq=copd+rates+in+minorities&source=bl&ots=s3EMGQ4E1T&sig=ZtsRjL R2nbFcfhIG0c5jLuVLFzM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1Et0UcP1MrWu4AOo1oGYBw& ved=0CHcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=copd%20rates%20in%20minorities&f=f alse