Comparison of atherosclerosis in alaska Natives and nonnatives
Newman, W.P.; Middaugh, J.P.; Guzman, M.A.; Propst, M.T.; Rogers, D.R.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 121(10): 1069-1075
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 9341586 Document Number: 477685
Objective.-To test the hypothesis that Alaska Natives have fewer atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries and aorta than nonnative Alaska residents. Design.- Systematic standardized collection and evaluation of coronary arteries and aortas collected at autopsy. Setting.-Forensic autopsy service in Alaska. Subjects.- One hundred thirty Alaska Natives and 115 Alaska nonnatives who underwent forensic autopsy between February 1989 and December 1993. Intervention.-None. Main Outcome Measures.- Prevalence and extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortas and coronary arteries in both populations studied. Results-Alaska Natives had significantly lower prevalence and extent of raised atherosclerotic lesions in the abdominal aorta and coronary arteries than nonnative Alaska residents. Conclusions.-Differences in coronary heart disease mortality between Alaska Natives and nonnatives are. at least in part, the result of fewer atherosclerotic lesions in Alaska Natives.