Post-mortem evidence of a diverse distribution pattern of atherosclerosis in the South African population

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Forensic Pathology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading global cause of mortality.
• Atherosclerosis is a primary risk factor for CVD, offering insights into population-level disease profiles.
• Limited data exists on atherosclerosis prevalence in sub-Saharan African populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of atherosclerosis in a diverse South African population.
• To investigate ethnic and gender-based differences in atherosclerosis distribution.
• To utilize post-mortem data for epidemiological insights into cardiovascular health.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 10,240 forensic post-mortem reports from a South African mortuary.
• Data collected over a 10-year period.
• Examination of coronary artery (CA) and large vessel (LV) atherosclerosis prevalence.

Main Results:

• European descent males exhibited the highest atherosclerosis prevalence (approx. 25% in CA/LV).
• European descent females showed high prevalence (approx. 20% in CA, 25% in LV).
• African descent males and females had substantially lower atherosclerosis prevalence compared to European descendants.
• Mixed-ancestry populations showed slightly higher prevalence than African descent but lower than European descent.
• Observed variations in prevalence within groups over the 10-year study period.

Conclusions:

• Significant ethnic and gender disparities in atherosclerosis prevalence exist within the studied South African population.
• Findings highlight a diverse distribution pattern of atherosclerosis risk factors in the region.
• Further research is needed to identify etiological factors influencing cardiovascular health across different demographic groups.