in the united states, health disparities are well documented in ethnic minorities such as african americans, native americans, asian americans, and hispanics. when compared to whites, these minority groups have higher incidence of chronic diseases, higher mortality, and poorer health outcomes. among the disease-specific examples of racial and ethnic disparities in the united states is the cancer incidence rate among african americans, which is 25% higher than among whites. in addition, adult african americans and hispanics have approximately twice the risk as whites of developing diabetes. minorities also have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, hiv/aids, and infant mortality than whites. caucasian americans have much lower life expectancy than asian americans. a 2001 study found large racial differences exist in healthy life expectancy at lower levels of education.