The Incidence and Pattern of Atherosclerosis in Africans

Abstract

Despite the very high incidence of arterial hypertension among Africans ath erosclerotic changes linked with prolonged hypertension is not commonly en countered and even then the coronary arteries are known to be spared. Since this seeming protection against atherosclerosis is said to be found among Afri can populations we carried out a study to ascertain the current presentation and pattern of atherosclerosis including fatty streaking of the intima in an indige nous African population. Our findings show that atheroma as a degenerative disease (not linked with hypertension), contrary to prevailing opinion, is not uncommon among Africans. However, the incidence and pattern of distribution of the lesion especially in the aorta show features which indicate interesting peculiarities in the population studied. We also found that although fatty streak ing of the intima was common and had its peak incidence in the third decade of life, comparatively fewer cases later progressed to atheroma formation.