Autopsy Studies in Atherosclerosis

Abstract

The incidences of obesity, hypertension, nephrosclerosis, and rheumatic carditis in 500 adult patients were noted at autopsy, and were correlated with the distribution and severity of concomitant atherosclerosis. In men, obesity uncomplicated by hypertension was associated with a significant increase in the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the occurrence of cardiac catastrophes. Uncomplicated obesity in women appeared to have no effect upon concomitant atherosclerosis. Hypertension in men was associated with significantly increased coronary and cerebral atherosclerosis, and with a greater occurrence of myocardial infarction. Hypertensive women had significantly more severe atherosclerosis than normotensive women in most of the arteries studied, and also had significantly more myocardial infarcts. The atherosclerosis of patients who had nephrosclerosis was similar in distribution and severity to that of patients who had hypertension. The presence of rheumatic carditis appeared not to influence the extent or severity of concomitant atherosclerosis.