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Incidence of myocardial and cerebral infarction in Nuuk, Greenland
J J Kjaergaard1, P Bjerregaard
1Queen Ingrid Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland. jensjk@dadlnet.dk
Insights
Myocardial infarction is rare in Greenland, but stroke is common. Most strokes are infarctions, not cerebral hemorrhages, challenging previous beliefs about cardiovascular disease in the Inuit population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Traditional beliefs suggest low rates of myocardial infarction and high rates of cerebral hemorrhage among the Inuit.
- Recent research questions these long-held assumptions regarding cardiovascular disease prevalence in Greenlandic populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke in Greenlandic patients.
- To compare the observed rates with existing epidemiological beliefs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients from Nuuk, Greenland, admitted to Dronning Ingrids Hospital between 1999 and 2002.
- Analysis of data for myocardial infarction and stroke, including stroke type determination via CT scans where available.
Main Results:
- Eight patients were diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI), with a median age of 70.
- Thirty-five patients were admitted for stroke, with a median age of 65. Cerebral infarctions were the most common type, accounting for 23 cases, while intracerebral hemorrhage was rare.
- Stroke was found to be four times more frequent than myocardial infarction.
Conclusions:
- Myocardial infarction appears to be infrequent in the Greenlandic population.
- Stroke is a significant health concern, occurring at a substantially higher rate than previously thought.
- Cerebral infarction is the predominant type of stroke, contrasting with the presumed higher incidence of cerebral hemorrhage.
Introduction:
Myocardial and cerebral infarction are held to be rare among the Inuit, whereas cerebral haemorrhage is thought to be frequent. Recent studies have questioned these beliefs. We report data form our institution.
Method:
Retrospective data collection and review of all charts from Greenlandic patients from the Nuuk area admitted to the city hospital, Dronning Ingrids Hospital, from 1999 to 2002.
Results:
A total of 8 patients with myocardial infarction were found, median age 70 years, 4 with ST elevation MI and 4 with non-ST elevation MI. Two of the former had thrombolysis. Thirty-five patients were admitted with stroke, excluding subarachnoid haemorrhage, median age 65 years. Of these, twenty-nine had a CT. Five scans were reported as being normal, one patient had an intracerebral haemorrhage and twenty-three had cerebral infarctions. Six had no CT. One of these was admitted comatose and died without regaining consciousness, the rest were minor strokes in patients over 70.
Conclusion:
Myocardial infarction is a rare disease in Greenlanders, whereas stroke is four times as frequent. The overwhelming majority of strokes are infarctions, whereas intracerebral haemorrhage seems to account only for a small minority.