J Natl Med Assoc
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The total number of American blacks aged 65 years and over is estimated to be approximately 2.3 million, and the black elderly population will continue to increase faster than the white elderly population throughout the remainder of this century. During the period 1985 to 2025, the elderly population in the United States will increase to 105 percent. ⋯ Many factors are associated with the development of hypertension and diabetes in blacks. Specfic epidemiologic studies are necessary to identify black-white differences in risk factors, including biomedical risk, socioeconomic status, psychosocial risk, nutritional status, lifestyle, and genetic factors.