[Coronary heart diseases among Lapps and Norwegians in Finnmark]

The Finnmark Health Survey of 1987-88 showed that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of coronary heart disease between a Sámi population and a Norwegian population. Among men 40-59 years of age, a prevalence of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris or both, of 5.5%, was found both in Norwegians and in the predominantly Sámi population of Inner Finnmark. Among women, a prevalence of 3.1% and 3.3% was found among Norwegians and Sámis, respectively. The difference in results between males and females was less among Sámis than Norwegians, despite Sámi women having a lower risk factor level than Norwegian women. A clinical follow-up study done in 1992-93 showed no significant differences in serum lipid concentrations between the Sámi and the Norwegian population. Sámis had a lower familial occurrence of coronary heart disease than Norwegians. Waist to hip ratio was higher among Sámis than Norwegians.