CORONARY AND AORTIC ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN THE NEGROES OF HAITI AND THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

The degree of coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in 267 autopsies of Haitian and American Negroes was graded on a scale of 0 to 4 by the same pathologist, their individual age, sex and country of origin unknown to him. Routine autopsies, covering all types of mortality over age 20, were utilized as representative samples of the 2 population groups. Hearts of the American subjects averaged almost double the degree of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, whereas no such difference was observed in the corresponding aortas. This held true for both males and females, and at virtually all age levels. Coronary grades of male subjects from both countries increased similarly with age to a semblance of a plateau in the 40''s; those of the females showed a remarkably uniform ascent from the lowest values to the highest at 60 and beyond. Vital statistics proved to be a remarkably inaccurate index for comparing the incidence of coronary disease in such contrasting civilizations. The apparent predisposition of the American group to coronary but not to aortic atherosclerosis [long dash] a highly significant difference statistically [long dash] suggests the importance of factors other than diet in the etiology of coronary disease. Conceivably, these factors may include the more stressful environment, and the greater complexity, mechanization, education and competitiveness of the Negro''s life in the United States.