Differences in prevalence and severity of coronary artery calcification between two non-Hispanic white populations with diverse lifestyles.
BACKGROUND
Comparison of atherosclerosis and its risk factors among diverse populations may provide insights into the pathogenesis of the disease. We investigated differences in traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors and presence and quantity of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a marker of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, between two diverse non-Hispanic white populations living in the US.


RESULTS
Members of the Old Order Amish (OOA), a unique culture with a physically active rural lifestyle who rarely use prescription medications, were compared to another non-Hispanic white population with a more typical US lifestyle, Epidemiology of Coronary Artery Calcification (ECAC), Study participants from Rochester, Minnesota. Although age- and sex-adjusted presence and quantity of CAC in those with detectable CAC were similar between study groups, there were significant differences in the distribution of many traditional CAD risk factors. OOA had significantly less abdominal adiposity and history of cigarette smoking but a less advantageous lipid profile than ECAC participants. Importantly, after adjusting for CAD risk factors, presence of CAC and quantity of CAC among those with detectable CAC were significantly higher among OOA than ECAC participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of factors contributing to differences in subclinical disease across groups could increase our understanding of mechanisms for coronary atherosclerosis.
Bielak
Lawrence F
LF
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3028, USA. lfbielak@umich.edu
Yu
Panfong
P
Ryan
Kathleen A
KA
Rumberger
John A
JA
Sheedy
Patrick F
PF
Turner
Stephen T
ST
Post
Wendy
W
Shuldiner
Alan R
AR
Mitchell
Braxton D
BD
Peyser
Patricia A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*