A new survey from the Association of Black Cardiologists reveals alarming disparities in cardiovascular knowledge and access to care across Southern states, particularly affecting Black and Hispanic Americans in rural and inner-city areas.
The survey uncovered that 54% of Black Americans and 49% of Hispanic Americans had no prior knowledge that there were two types of cholesterol. Overall, 40% of respondents were unaware of this basic cardiovascular health information, and 36% did not know their own cholesterol levels.
Anthony Fletcher, MD, president of ABC and an interventional cardiologist at CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic Arkansas in Little Rock, said the survey was conducted to understand how well people living in rural and inner-city areas understand cardiovascular risks.
Access to care emerged as a critical barrier. One in four adults traveled over 20 miles to see heart specialists, with rates higher in Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi. In those states, nearly one in five Black and Hispanic respondents reported never having had any cardiovascular screening.
Fletcher explained that building trust is essential in these underserved communities. “You have to have people on the ground in these cities and rural areas that people trust,” he said.
The Cardiovascular Desert Campaign has established hubs in Little Rock, New Orleans, Jackson, and Atlanta to expand outreach through free LDL-C screenings, community education and provider outreach. The initiative also leverages partnerships with local leaders, faith-based organizations and mobile health vans to reach people where they live.
Fletcher emphasized that providers need to be more aggressive in lipid management for high-risk patients according to 2022 consensus guidelines.
See: “New ABC campaign works to improve care in cardiology deserts” (January 20, 2026)
