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Accelerating epilepsy education and awareness for African-American men
Epilepsy & Behavior 67 (2017) 128
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Epilepsy & Behavior journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/yebeh
Epilepsy Matters
Accelerating epilepsy education and awareness for African-American men
The burden of illness, premature death, and disability disproportionately affects certain populations [1]. Excess mortality among Blacks and Whites in the US has been well-documented [2]. Health disparities among African Americans, particularly black men, are perplexing as compared to other racial and ethnic U.S. populations. The health disparities among African American men are striking. African American men are 30% more likely to die from heart disease and 60% more likely to die from stroke than are non-Hispanic white men [3]. These health disparities endured by African American men are not limited to cardiovascular disease. These same types of disparities are seen in epilepsy. According to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, non-Hispanic Blacks and males had the highest age-adjusted death rates with epilepsy as anylisted caused reported on death certificate over a 10-year period, 2005–2014 [4]. This study did not stratify age-adjusted rates by gender with race/ethnicity. Because non-Hispanic Blacks and males had the highest death rates due to epilepsy over the study period, a possible further conclusion of these data is that non-Hispanic Black male deaths from epilepsy are greatest among any demographic group in this study. This CDC study highlights an ongoing, increasing, and predominately silent crisis in the health and well-being of African American men. Due to a lack of awareness, poor health education, and certain culturallyinduced behavior patterns in their work and personal lives, African American men's health and well-being are deteriorating steadily. Families and communities are dramatically affected both at home and in the workplace because men are living approximately 5 years less than women [5]. Health outcomes among men continue to be substantially worse than women, yet this gender-based disparity in health has received little national acknowledgement or attention. This is particularly true for men of color. African American men in almost every state continue to fare worse than white men on a variety of measures of health, health care access, and other social determinants of health [6]. The Kaiser Foundation has documented the persistence of such disparities between white men and men of color, and among different groups within men of color, on 22 indicators of health and well-being, including rates of chronic diseases such as, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, as well as insurance coverage and health screenings.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.12.006 1525-5050/© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
An individual's health outcomes and utilization of health care are influenced by numerous factors beyond health insurance status. While many health promotion interventions have focused on personal behaviors (e.g., smoking, diet, nutrition, help seeking), evidence shows that social factors (e.g. early life experiences, work environment, housing, and neighborhood characteristics) can have a direct or indirect influence on health outcomes [7]. These social determinants of health must be an integral part of chronic disease, epilepsy education, and health promotion interventions for especially African American men. This CDC study is a reminder for African Americans and men to take steps to be healthier and control their epilepsy. It is also a reminder for epilepsy education and awareness stakeholders to expand their programs to facilitate accelerating health equity for populations at greatest risks of death from epilepsy, especially African American men. References [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC health disparities and inequalities report — United States, 2013. MMWR 2013;62(Suppl. 3):3. [2] Geronimus AT, Bound J, Colen CG. Excess black mortality in the United States and in select black or white high-poverty areas, 1980–2000. Am J Public Health 2011; 101(4):720–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.195537. [3] Blackwell DL, Lucas JW, Clarke TC. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2012. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2014;10(206). [4] Kobau R, Greenlund S, Croft J. Epilepsy deaths by age, race/ethnicity, and gender — United States; 2005-2014. [5] Arias E. Changes in life expectancy by race and Hispanic origin in the United States, 2013–2014. NCHS data brief, no 244. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2016. [6] James C, Salganicoff A, Ranji U, Goodwin A, Duckett P. Putting men's health care disparities on the map: examining racial and ethnic disparities at the state level. Washington, DC: Kaiser Family Foundation; 2012. [7] Braveman PA, Egerter SA, Mckenhaupt RE. Broadening the focus: the need to address the social determinants of health. Am J Prev Med 2011;40:4–18.
Steven Owens Epilepsy Foundation, 8301 Professional Place-East, Suite 200, Landover, MD 20785-2353, United States E-mail address: [email protected]. 23 November 2016
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Epilepsy & Behavior journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/yebeh
Epilepsy Matters
Accelerating epilepsy education and awareness for African-American men
The burden of illness, premature death, and disability disproportionately affects certain populations [1]. Excess mortality among Blacks and Whites in the US has been well-documented [2]. Health disparities among African Americans, particularly black men, are perplexing as compared to other racial and ethnic U.S. populations. The health disparities among African American men are striking. African American men are 30% more likely to die from heart disease and 60% more likely to die from stroke than are non-Hispanic white men [3]. These health disparities endured by African American men are not limited to cardiovascular disease. These same types of disparities are seen in epilepsy. According to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, non-Hispanic Blacks and males had the highest age-adjusted death rates with epilepsy as anylisted caused reported on death certificate over a 10-year period, 2005–2014 [4]. This study did not stratify age-adjusted rates by gender with race/ethnicity. Because non-Hispanic Blacks and males had the highest death rates due to epilepsy over the study period, a possible further conclusion of these data is that non-Hispanic Black male deaths from epilepsy are greatest among any demographic group in this study. This CDC study highlights an ongoing, increasing, and predominately silent crisis in the health and well-being of African American men. Due to a lack of awareness, poor health education, and certain culturallyinduced behavior patterns in their work and personal lives, African American men's health and well-being are deteriorating steadily. Families and communities are dramatically affected both at home and in the workplace because men are living approximately 5 years less than women [5]. Health outcomes among men continue to be substantially worse than women, yet this gender-based disparity in health has received little national acknowledgement or attention. This is particularly true for men of color. African American men in almost every state continue to fare worse than white men on a variety of measures of health, health care access, and other social determinants of health [6]. The Kaiser Foundation has documented the persistence of such disparities between white men and men of color, and among different groups within men of color, on 22 indicators of health and well-being, including rates of chronic diseases such as, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, as well as insurance coverage and health screenings.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.12.006 1525-5050/© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
An individual's health outcomes and utilization of health care are influenced by numerous factors beyond health insurance status. While many health promotion interventions have focused on personal behaviors (e.g., smoking, diet, nutrition, help seeking), evidence shows that social factors (e.g. early life experiences, work environment, housing, and neighborhood characteristics) can have a direct or indirect influence on health outcomes [7]. These social determinants of health must be an integral part of chronic disease, epilepsy education, and health promotion interventions for especially African American men. This CDC study is a reminder for African Americans and men to take steps to be healthier and control their epilepsy. It is also a reminder for epilepsy education and awareness stakeholders to expand their programs to facilitate accelerating health equity for populations at greatest risks of death from epilepsy, especially African American men. References [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC health disparities and inequalities report — United States, 2013. MMWR 2013;62(Suppl. 3):3. [2] Geronimus AT, Bound J, Colen CG. Excess black mortality in the United States and in select black or white high-poverty areas, 1980–2000. Am J Public Health 2011; 101(4):720–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.195537. [3] Blackwell DL, Lucas JW, Clarke TC. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2012. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2014;10(206). [4] Kobau R, Greenlund S, Croft J. Epilepsy deaths by age, race/ethnicity, and gender — United States; 2005-2014. [5] Arias E. Changes in life expectancy by race and Hispanic origin in the United States, 2013–2014. NCHS data brief, no 244. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2016. [6] James C, Salganicoff A, Ranji U, Goodwin A, Duckett P. Putting men's health care disparities on the map: examining racial and ethnic disparities at the state level. Washington, DC: Kaiser Family Foundation; 2012. [7] Braveman PA, Egerter SA, Mckenhaupt RE. Broadening the focus: the need to address the social determinants of health. Am J Prev Med 2011;40:4–18.
Steven Owens Epilepsy Foundation, 8301 Professional Place-East, Suite 200, Landover, MD 20785-2353, United States E-mail address: [email protected]. 23 November 2016