Trends in 25-year evolution of coronary atherosclerosis in males from somecities of Europe and Asia

Aim. Detection of changes in the course of coronary atherosclerosis (CA) wh ich took place for 25 years of observation in male population in different cities. Material and methods. Epidemiology surveys of coronary AS by autopsy data a ccording to WHO program were conducted in 1963-1966 (trial 1) and 1985-1989 (trial 2) in 9 cities: Ashkhabad (Turkmenistan), Bishkek (Kirghizia), Irku tsk, Yakutsk (Russia), Riga (Latvia), Tallinn, Tartu (Estonia), Kharkov, Ya lta (Ukraine), Malme (Sweden), Prague (Czechia). The surveys enrolled males aged 20-59 years: 7470 males entered trial 1 and 9600 entered trial 2. AS was assessed visually-planimetrically in the three major coronary arteries (CA). By the data from Ashkhabad, Bishkek, Irkutsk, Kharkov, Yakutsk, AS in healthy males was also characterized. Results. In 9 CIS countries' cities CS for 25 years has undergone noticeabl e changes: according to trial 2 atherosclerotic process accelerated, especi ally in males over 40, in healthy males as well. CA AS had the same feature s in both trials in Prague and was less pronounced in males from Malme. Nat ional differences between native population and immigrants in AS were evide nt in Ashkhabad, Bishkek and Yakutsk in both trials. In trial 2 CA stenosis were encountered more frequently in all the cities under study. Coronary a rteries were more calcified. There was a direct relationship between severi ty of preatherosclerotic CA changes in young males (20-39-year-old) and spe ed of AS progression in older males. Conclusion. For 25 years there was a tendency to more severe course of coro nary AS in CIS countries, in Prague males AS has undergone minimal changes, in Malme the situation with AS severity has improved. Severity of AS in ma les from different cities and CHD male mortality were correlated.