Association between Risk Factors and Atherosclerotic Lesions Based on Autopsy Findings in the Oslo Study: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Atherosclerosis results from many interacting factors working during a long period. The geographic differences in the extent of atherosclerotic lesions (McGill, 1968) indicate the importance of the environment. Within one population the extent of atherosclerotic lesions differs among persons (Tejada et al., 1968) because of individual differences in susceptibility to atherosclerosis and in differences in exposure to risk factors. We probably know only a few of the risk factors. Some risk factors lead to atherosclerotic lesions, to complications of the lesions, and thereby to the occlusion of vessels. Risk factors for coronary heart disease may also act directly on the myocardium and its conductive system. These risk factors and clinical atherosclerotic disease, particularly coronary heart disease (Westlund and Nicolaysen, 1972). Less information is available about risk factors and the extent of atherosclerotic lesions. Some of the factors known to be associated with clinical coronary heart disease have been studied retrospectively for their association with atherosclerosis (Robertson and Strong, 1968; Strong and Richards, 1976). Before our present report, no prospective studies had examined risk factors and coronary atherosclerotic lesions in the same persons, mainly because reliable measurements of atherosclerotic lesions can only be obtained after death.

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The study is supported by the city of Oslo. Norwegian Council on Cardiovascular Diseases in part by Grants HL-08974 and HL-14496 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, MD/USA.