Ischaemic heart disease in men of productive age: comparison of epidemiological and morphological data

Data obtained from a cross-sectional population study of men aged 20-54 years and results of a morphological epidemiological examination of the aorta and coronary arteries of 507 men aged 20-59 years, deceased from various causes in the city of Tallinn, were analysed to find whether there is a relationship between the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), its risk factors and morphological features of atherosclerosis. An association has been found between the development of clinical IHD manifestations with age, extent of morphological signs of atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta and coronary arteries, and occurrence of hypercholesterolaemia. Estonian men showed more marked changes in lipid indicators and greater extent of morphological signs of atherosclerosis than men of other nationalities; this corresponds to the more atherogenic character of the former's diet. However, Estonian men did not differ from other nationalities in the occurrence of IHD and expected death risk--a finding the authors explain by the lower percentage of smokers among Estonians.