Comparison of atherosclerosis in Alaska Natives and nonnatives

Objective.-To test the hypothesis that Alaska Natives have fewer atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries and aorta than nonnative Alaska residents. Design.-Systematic standardized collection and evaluation of coronary arteries and aortas collected at autopsy. Setting.-Forensic autopsy service in Alaska. Subjects.-One hundred thirty Alaska Natives and 115 Alaska nonnatives who underwent forensic autopsy between February 1989 and December 1993. lntervention.-None Main Outcome Measures.-Prevalence and extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortas and coronary arteries in both populations studied. Results.-Alaska Natives had significantly lower prevalence and extent of raised atherosclerotic lesions in the abdominal aorta and coronary arteries than nonnative Alaska residents. Conclusions.-Differences in coronary heart disease mortality between Alaska Natives and nonnatives are, at least in part, the result of fewer atherosclerotic lesions in Alaska Natives.