Related Experiment Videos
Coronary risk factors and autopsy findings in Japanese-American men
Insights
Atherosclerosis in Honolulu Heart Study participants was linked to age, smoking, cholesterol, and blood pressure. These factors independently correlated with aortic and coronary artery disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Epidemiology
- Pathology
Background:
- The Honolulu Heart Study investigated cardiovascular disease risk factors in men.
- Atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries, is a major contributor to heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between various risk factors and the extent of atherosclerosis in deceased male participants.
- To evaluate the reproducibility of the American Heart Association panel method for estimating atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Autopsy data from 226 Honolulu Heart Study participants (1965-1974) were analyzed.
- Atherosclerosis extent was quantified using the American Heart Association panel method in 137 cases.
- Multivariate analysis identified independent associations between atherosclerosis and demographic/clinical factors.
Main Results:
- Aortic atherosclerosis independently associated with age at death, daily cigarette consumption, serum cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure.
- Coronary atherosclerosis independently associated with relative weight, daily cigarette consumption, and serum cholesterol.
- Heart weight correlated with height, relative weight, and systolic blood pressure.
- No significant association found between alcohol consumption, hematocrit, and atherosclerosis severity.
Conclusions:
- Age, smoking, cholesterol, and blood pressure are key independent predictors of aortic atherosclerosis.
- Relative weight, smoking, and cholesterol are key independent predictors of coronary atherosclerosis.
- The American Heart Association panel method is a reliable tool for quantifying atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
During the years 1965 to 1974, 481 men who had participated in a standardized examination at the Honolulu Heart Study died. Autopsies were conducted in 226 of the men, and in 137 the extent of coronary and/or aortic atherosclerosis was estimated by the American Heart Association panel method. This method was found to be simple and highly reproducible. In multivariate analysis, statistically independent associations were found between aortic atherosclerosis and age at death, cigarettes per day, serum cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure; between coronary atherosclerosis and relative weight, cigarettes per day, and serum cholesterol; and between heart weight and height, relative weight, and systolic blood pressure. Alcohol consumption was lower and hematocrit was higher in men with infarcts than in other decedents, but no statistically significant relation between these variables and coronary or aortic atherosclerosis could be demonstrated.