FIGURE 2—

Difference in age-adjusted mortality rates of Whites and African Americans in 1991–2000 and potential number of lives saved if the rates had been comparable.

Source. Age-adjusted death rates are from Table 35: Death rates for all causes, according to sex, race, Hispanic origin, and age: United States, selected years 1950–2001. National Center for Health Statistics. Available at: ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Publications/Health_US/hus03/Table035.xls. Potentially avoidable deaths were calculated as described in: http://www.vcu.edu/fp/research/AJPHaddendum.pdf.