Kusuma Venkatesh1, C. M. Jayakeerthy2
ABSTRACT: Atherosclerosis is a disease which is worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the western world half of all deaths are attributable to this vascular disease. Studies have shown that the presence of severe atherosclerosis of thoracic aorta is associated with high mortality rate and strong predictor of coronary artery disease. Autopsy study which combines morphological details with case history collected especially regarding the risk factors for atherosclerosis can be a good method in understanding the disease process. Hence this autopsy study was undertaken to study atherosclerosis of aorta and coronary arteries to assess 1) the frequency of occurrence, 2) severity at different age and sex, 3) relation to the established risk factors like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and tobacco smoking, 4) to analyze the role of socioeconomic status and diet and 5) to compare the disease process between aorta and coronary artery of the same person. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was less than aortic atherosclerosis upto the 5th decade. There was no significant variation after 6th decade in the incidence and also the severity of atherosclerosis between Aorta and coronaries. In 88.8% persons belonging to 5th decade showed grade III and IV lesions in aorta as against 33.3% had this type lesions in coronaries. In the 6th decade all the cases had both coronary and aortic involvement. 75% cases had grade III, IV lesions in aortas with similar lesions in 66.7% of coronaries. In 7th and 8th decade, severe degree lesions were seen in both aorta and coronaries. There was clear increased frequency of atherosclerosis associated with the major risk factors, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco smoking and older age. A similar study conducted by the same author two decades later proved this fact. There is an alarming increase in the number of deaths due to coronary atherosclerosis in India and this number is expected to escalate rapidly in the next decade.
