Coronary Angiographic Findings in Correlation with Age, Body Weight, Blood Pressure, Serum Lipids, and Smoking Habits

Abstract

Radiological findings by coronary angiography in 224 patients, 173 males and 51 females, were graded according to the rate of filling of coronary arteries and to the presence or absence of obstruction of vessel lumen. The material was then grouped according to age, diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, serum glycerides, and smoking habits. Age and diastolic blood pressure were not found to have any influence on frequency of coronary artery changes, presumably because of selection of patients. In the males, elevated total serum cholesterol had only a minor influence on the frequency of coronary artery changes, while elevated glycerides were found in high frequency in patients with obstructed coronary arteries, especially in those with severe obstruction. If patients put on lipid-reducing therapy or diet were added to those with serum cholesterol higher than 280 mg/100 ml, a slight overrepresentation of coronary changes was found when compared with patients with total serum cholesterol equal to or lower than 280 mg/100 ml. The influence of elevated total serum cholesterol was in all instances inferior to that of elevated serum glycerides. Smokers showed the frequency of coronary changes the same as or higher than patients with elevated glycerides. The influence of smoking was evident also within classes of low or elevated serum lipids. While all conclusions must be interpreted with reference to the material selected as the source of our data, the importance of smoking as a causative agent independent of serum lipids appears conclusive.

Relation between extent of coronary artery disease and severity of hyperlipoproteinaemia.

“…A similar relation between cholesterol and vessel disease has been reported by Banks et al (1971) and Barboriak et al (1974). Cramer et al (1966), however, were unable to show a relation between cholesterol and vessel disease but found raised triglyceride in a significantly higher frequency among patients with severe coronary disease. In contrast, Heinle et al (1969) and Nitter-Hauge and Enge (1973) were unable to correlate cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations with the extent of vessel disease.…”

“…Some studies show a close relation between Selective coronary arteriography was performed by cholesterol levels and the severity of the arterial the techniques of Judkins or Sones (Judkins, 1967; disease (Banks, Raftery, and Oram, 1971;Barboriak Sones and Shirey, 1962). Coronary arterial disease was disetase1974) whilothers ando not(ram er,1 Barriak considered to be present when lumen occlusion was et al, 1974) while others do not (Cramer, Paulin, greater than 50 per cent in one or more of the three and Werko, 1966;Heinle et al, 1969;Nitter-Hauge major vessels (right, left anterior descending, and left and Enge, 1973). Similarly, an association between circumflex coronary arteries).…”

Plasma triglyceride and coronary heart disease.

“…61 Seven of these studies analyzed data specific for women, the six most recent of which found significant univariate associations, 48 -49 -52 -55 -58 -61 while one did not. 44 After adjusting for LDL-C, the triglyceride association persisted in four of five studies. 49 -52 -58 -61 Three such studies adjusted for HDL-C; the triglyceride association remained significant in one 58 but not in the other two.…”

Pathogenesis of Macrovascular Disease in the Human Diabetic

“…However, there is evidence for higher mortality in obese women diabetics with acute myocardial infarction, suggesting a "larger infarction" in such patients. 131 Cramer et al 132 studied the relation of several factors with atherosclerosis in 224 patients undergoing coronary angiography and found no correlation between adiposity and coronary lesions. Similar lack of association was seen in several prospective studies summarized by Keys.…”