Stagnating declines in cardiovascular disease mortality in the United States expanded the black-white life expectancy gap.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess how stagnation in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality declines since 2010 impacted racial disparities in life expectancy between Black and White Americans.

Methods

We analyzed U.S. vital statistics from 2000 to 2022 to compare age-standardized CVD mortality trends in Black and White middle-aged and older adults. Using life tables, we then estimated racial differences in life expectancy under observed mortality conditions and under a counterfactual scenario in which CVD mortality had continued to decline in 2010-2022 at pre-2010 rates.

Results

In 2000-2009, CVD mortality was declining more quickly among Black Americans, and the Black-White life expectancy gap narrowed by 1.39 years for women and 1.44 years for men. Progress slowed after 2010. Had

SUBMITTER: Abrams LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12560480 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature