1,454 counties in the US are rural | 46% of rural counties in the US did not have a practicing cardiologist in 2023. | 22 million Americans live in counties with no cardiologists. | Over 2 million Black Americans live in counties with no cardiologists.1,454 counties in the US are rural | 46% of rural counties in the US did not have a practicing cardiologist in 2023. | 22 million Americans live in counties with no cardiologists. | Over 2 million Black Americans live in counties with no cardiologists.
What Americans Don’t Know Is Putting Them at Risk
Heart disease is the top cause of death for Americans and has been for 100 years – responsible for more deaths than all cancers combined.
Due to systemic barriers and a lack of resources and support, this burden is even higher for Black Americans. Additionally, people living in rural areas and in urban areas with a shortage of doctors also have a higher burden of heart disease.
Knowing your heart health numbers and risk for heart disease is the first step in preventing heart disease. Yet many people don’t know important information including that there are different kinds of cholesterol that affect their risk in different ways. This lack of information is especially common among younger adults, people living in the South, and communities of color.
Find out what steps to take to protect your heart health.
The Urgent Need
Over 16.8 million Black Americans live in U.S. counties with limited or no cardiology care, and more than 2 million reside in areas without a single cardiologist. These "cardiology deserts," concentrated in southern states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Arkansas, suffer from high rates of heart disease, driven by limited access, poverty, and systemic health inequities.
If you live in these areas, check out our events to get more support for your heart health.
News and Press Releases
Every Heart Counts Cardiology Deserts Campaign is a program from the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. This program is made possible through sponsorships from the following organizations:
