NNPA NEWSWIRE — In the U.S., African Americans experience disproportionate rates of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure and stroke ix,x and according to one study, were 45 percent more likely to die as a result of heart failure-related hospitalization than Caucasian populations in the United States.[xi] Poor cardiovascular outcomes in the African American community have been linked to a variety of factors, such as lower levels of health literacy and education, an overall lack of insurance coverage and access to quality healthcare.