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Coronary atherosclerosis among Hong Kong Chinese--a histological and morphometric study using electronic digitizer
Insights
Atherosclerosis prevalence in Hong Kong Chinese is similar to Westerners, with early onset in males and later onset in females. This contrasts with lower ischemic heart disease mortality, suggesting racial factors may play a role.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Pathology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis, a major cause of ischemic heart disease, has varying prevalence across different populations.
- Understanding the prevalence in diverse ethnic groups like Hong Kong Chinese is crucial for public health.
- Previous studies suggested lower atherosclerosis rates in Chinese populations compared to Westerners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the prevalence of atherosclerosis in the major coronary arteries of Hong Kong Chinese.
- To compare these findings with Western populations and Chinese from Mainland China.
- To investigate the relationship between coronary atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease mortality in this population.
Main Methods:
- Autopsy material from Queen Mary Hospital in 1981 was analyzed.
- Light microscopy and morphometric analysis using an electronic digitizer were employed.
- The narrowest segments of proximal coronary arteries were examined.
Main Results:
- Atherosclerosis was observed to begin in young adult males with linear progression by age.
- Females exhibited a delayed onset, with a significant increase after menopause.
- The incidence of atherosclerosis among Hong Kong Chinese was comparable to Western populations, but distinct from Mainland Chinese.
- Mortality from ischemic heart disease remained relatively low.
Conclusions:
- Hong Kong Chinese exhibit a high prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis, similar to Western populations.
- A notable dissociation exists between coronary atherosclerosis burden and ischemic heart disease mortality.
- Racial factors may contribute to the observed lower ischemic heart disease mortality despite significant atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
In order to document the prevalence of atherosclerosis of the major coronary arteries among Hong Kong Chinese, a study on material from autopsies done during the year 1981 in Queen Mary Hospital was carried out. The narrowest part of the proximal coronary arteries was studied by light microscopy and morphometrically by electronic digitizer. We found an onset of atherosclerosis in young adult males and a linear progression with age. Females had a delayed onset with a sharp rise after menopause. We were surprised to find an incidence of atherosclerosis among Hong Kong Chinese comparable with that in western populations, as distinct from Chinese in Mainland China. However, mortality due to ischemic heart disease remained relatively low. Racial factors may contribute to this partial dissociation between coronary atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease.