Race and Modifiable Factors Influencing Cardiovascular Disease.

A modern approach to mitigating the impact of cardiovascular disease on Americans demands not only an understanding of modifiable conditions that contribute to its development but also a greater appreciation of the heterogeneous distribution of these conditions based on race. As race is not a biological construct, further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms that contribute to these differences. The consequences of the differential impact of modifiable risk factors on cardiovascular disease outcomes among black Americans compared with white Americans cannot be understated.