title: Comparison of atherosclerosis in alaska Natives and nonnatives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that Alaska Natives have fewer atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries and aorta than nonnative Alaska residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic standardized collection and evaluation of coronary arteries and aortas collected at autopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forensic autopsy service in Alaska.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty Alaska Natives and 115 Alaska nonnatives who underwent forensic autopsy between February 1989 and December 1993.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112, USA.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Middaugh
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Propst
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology