The Medical clinics of North America
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Jul 2005
ReviewColorectal cancer and race: understanding the differences in outcomes between African Americans and whites.
Understanding the differences in the incidence and mortality rate between African Americans and whites with CRC remains a perplexing problem. There is clearly not any one factor that explains the observed differences. Clinicians are just beginning to understand the importance of tumor biology, genetics, and lifestyle risk factors in explaining differences in how CRCs present and how they behave. ⋯ If this model is validated in further studies, one could look at whether African-American patients are more likely to have this predictive signature. The problem has been clearly defined: a higher incidence of and a higher mortality from CRC for African Americans than whites. The task now becomes to continue to understand the reasons for the disparities and ultimately to come up with workable solutions so that the amazing progress in CRC treatment benefits all groups in this country.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Jul 2005
ReviewEpidemiology of stroke in African Americans and Hispanic Americans.
Many minorities continue to experience disparities in the level of their personal health and overall health care in the United States. This article explores disparities in stroke as they relate to two minority populations: African Americans and Hispanic Americans. These two groups have been chosen for review and discussion because the available epidemiologic databases are relatively broad, and the authors have personal experience in the conduct of research studies in these populations.