Risk factors and raised atherosclerotic lesions in coronary and cerebral arteries. Statistical analysis from the Oslo study.

In 1972-1973, about 16,200 men living in Oslo, aged 40 to 49 years, were examined for cardiovascular disease, and had a number of coronary risk factors measured. This report gives the results of 129 autopsied cases with regard to the association between raised atherosclerotic lesions in coronary and cerebral arteries and various coronary risk factors. For coronary raised lesions, the high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio was the most significant risk factor. Systolic blood pressure and total serum cholesterol were also significantly associated. Physical activity at work and at leisure, nonfasting triglycerides, and cigarette smoking did not show a significant association with coronary artery raised lesions. The association between total serum cholesterol and systolic blood indicates that total serum cholesterol may be more important than systolic pressure in the synergism affecting the development of coronary atherosclerosis. For cerebral artery raised lesions, blood pressure was the most important risk factor, even though serum cholesterol was highly associated with the lesions. The interaction analysis also suggested that blood pressure was more important than serum cholesterol in the synergism.