Comparative study of plasma lipids, carbohydrate tolerance and coronary angiography in three racial groups

Coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated by selective coronary cine angiography in 94 White, 59 Indian and 17 Black patients, and correlated with plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and glucose tolerance. CAD was found in 94%, 97% and 82%, and hypercholesterolaemia in 68%, 61% and 50% of the Whites, Indians and Blacks respectively. In the White group, cholesterol levels correlated with both frequency and severity of CAD. Hypertriglyceridaemia occurred in 44% of the White, 47% of the Indian, and 23% of the Black group, but did not correlate with the extent of CAD in any. Diabetes was detected in 56% of the Whites and 47% of the Indians, but was absent in all the Blacks tested. Hypercholesterolaemia appeared to be the only risk factor common to all racial groups.