Members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina are at higher risk for heart disease, according to researchers from Duke University.

A study of 920 Lumbees who were hospitalized for heart treatment had significantly higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and prior history of coronary heart disease, and were more likely than others to receive angioplasty during their hospitalization. The Lumbee patients tended to be younger and were more likely to be female.

Heart disease is the number one killer in Indian Country, with Native Americans suffering from coronary heart disease at nearly twice the rate of the general population. The rates for early cardiovascular disease appear to be higher than any other racial or ethnic group in the country.

Get the Story:
Lumbee Indian Tribe at Raised Heart Risk (HealthDay News 3/13)
Press Release: Lumbee Native Americans have higher cardiovascular risks (Duke University Medical Center 3/12)

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