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In 2006, a team of physicians and other health care professionals from across the United States came together through the Close the Gap initiative to identify opportunities and develop strategies to address disparities in cardiovascular care for the underserved patient populations of women, black Americans, and Hispanic/Latino Americans.
Learn whether you are at risk for heart disease, and if so, what you can do to lower your risk.
Close the Gap is visiting several stadiums across the country this season, educating football fans about the risk factors for developing heart disease and encouraging game attendees to "Take Charge of Your Heart Health." Our Close the Gap information booth was staffed by heart health experts at football events in Detroit, Columbus, Dallas, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. Local college, high school and NFL coaches joined the effort by recording heart health public service announcements that aired on stadium scoreboard screens and local radio broadcasts. Several cardiologists also participated in the initiative, providing heart health information in local media outlets and talking with game day fans who visited the Close the Gap informational booth onsite at the games.
But football fans weren't the only game attendees with access to the Close the Gap informational booth, baseball fans at five Minor League games also had the opportunity to talk with Close the Gap team members to learn more about heart health. Close the Gap partnered with the Round Rock Express, the Gwinnett Braves, the Jacksonville Suns, the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Midland Rock Hounds, reaching thousands of baseball fans.
Close the Gap will continue to partner with athletic leaders and teams in an effort to bring important heart health messages to sports fans across the country. Upcoming events are being planned for Houston, Chicago, New York City, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis.
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The disparities are real and have been documented. Despite similar prevalence across racial/ethnic groups, women and people of color are treated at a lesser rate for cardiovascular disease than Caucasian men. And with the publication of several recent related studies, as well as the momentum of the Close the Gap educational initiative, disparities in care discussions have become more mainstream and more frequent.
While interest around cardiovascular treatment disparities is growing in the healthcare sector, the public sector is also taking note. Close the Gap continues to educate a variety of audiences about how race, ethnicity and gender can affect an individual’s potential for developing heart disease and for receiving appropriate treatment for the disease. Close the Gap team members and volunteers have been actively educating and engaging audiences from across the country, talking with leaders in the corporate, government, athletic, and faith-based communities.
Learn more about the Close the Gap educational initiative and check our Calendar of Events for upcoming events near you.
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2009 Update. Available at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200026