CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED-STATES - COASTAL-PLAIN ENIGMA

The spatial pattern of cardiovascular mortality in Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina has suggested that causative factors in the geochemical environment may be involved. Agestandardized mortality rates for sex and race subgroups of the population over two time periods are used to examine the pattern. An optimal regression analysis indicates the divergent mortality associations of the groups. Canonical analysis is used to examine the linkages of mortality and socio-economic variable sets over time. Stress of change factors are indicated in explaining the mortality pattern and need to be included in any design to isolate influences of the geochemical environment. © 1979.