[Epidemiology of the coronary risk in a semi-rural population of 420 patients having presented a myocardial infarct].

Various sociological and biological parameters have been studied in a population of 420 subjects - 335 men and 85 women - living in a semi rural country and having presented a myocardial infarct. Our study shows big differences in epidemiology between men and women: 1. The age of women is on an average seven years older than men (63 years against 56). 2. The women's average rate of cholesterol oversteps men's rate by 21 mg% (291 mg % against 271). 3. The blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, is distinctly higher by women (mean 171/97) tan by men (148/98). Amid women, 63% have a S.B.P. equal to or higher than 160 mm Hg against 23% by men and 56% have a D.B.P. equal to or higher than 100 mm Hg against 21 % by men. 4. Hyperglycemia is more frequent among women; man rate: 103 mg % against 88 mg % by men; 17 % of the women have an equal to or higher rate than 110 mg % (8 % among men). 5. Obesity, expressed by a weight index, equal to or higher than 120, is found in 76 % of the women and 34 % of the men. The mean index is 123 by the women and 115 by the men. 6. Cigarette smoking is far more important by men: 65 % of the men smoke at least 15 cigarettes a day with smoke inhalation. This factor is practically not met by women. The smokers get their myocardial infarct at a significantly lower age than no smoking men and women. The women of our infarct population have thus an age, a cholesterol rate, a blood pressure and a glycemia higher than men of the same population; they are more frequently overweight but they don't smoke. Consequently, metabolic agents seem to play an essential part in coronary risk in women.