The social determinants of cardiovascular disease: time for a focus on racism

Race, or more accurately racism (systemic, institutional and individual/everyday discrimination based on race), is well known as one of the social determinants of health (SDOH). Numerous studies show that racism-related stress is a powerful predictor of health and social outcomes. In this editorial we describe how racism and colonialism are strong determinants of cardiovascular disease.We include a discussion of intergenerational trauma transmission as a core antecedent of racism-related stress among racialised peoples. The editorial concludes with anti-racist strategies for tackling this pressing professional practice and public policy concern. Although we focus on Aboriginal and African Canadian peoples, who in themselves have very distinct histories, we believe that the concepts are applicable across many racialised communities.