increases for the White population, leading to a larger overall minority/ White ratio in 1995. Table 14–3B shows that the Black/White ratio in 1995 was 2.44:1 compared to 1.24:1 in 1950, the Native American or Alaska Native/White ratio was 2.33:1 in 1995 compared to 2.20:1 in 1980, and the Hispanic/White ratio was 1.65:1 in 1995 compared to 1.49:1 in 1985.

Chronic liver disease, or cirrhosis (a term used to describe a number of different liver disorders), was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States in 1996, accounting for some 25,047 deaths. In 1950, the death rate from cirrhosis was higher for Whites than for Blacks. By 1995, the rate was slightly lower for Whites, but rates for this group had changed little during this period. Table 14–4A shows that in 1995, Blacks, Native Americans or Alaska Natives, and Hispanics all had higher age-adjusted death rates than Whites. Asians or Pacific Islanders had rates that were markedly lower than all other groups, whereas Native Americans or Alaska Natives had rates that were markedly higher. Their rates declined between 1980 and 1990, but an upward trend was evident from 1990 to 1995. Asian or Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations show a small but consistent decline in cirrhosis rates over time. In 1995 the Native American or Alaska Native and the Hispanic rates were slightly lower than at the earliest noted time points for each, and the advantage of Asian or Pacific Islanders over Whites slightly increased. The rate for Blacks increased remarkably from 1960 to 1970, but began to decrease thereafter; in 1995, it was slightly higher than in 1950.