The epidemiology of atherosclerosis among a random sample of clothing workers of different ethnic origins in New York City: I. Prevalence of atherosclerosis and some associated characteristics

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The prevalence of manifest atherosclerosis and associated conditions has been studied among a working population who were members of a Union representing the workers in the men's clothing industry in New York City. Of the total Union population of 33,000 men and women, a sample of 683 men and 592 women aged 40 and over was drawn at random; an additional, nonrandom group of family members, including 183 men and 272 women, was also examined. The majority of the participants belonged to two different ethnic groups,, and were first generation immigrants of Italian and Jewish origin; their social and economic status was otherwise comparable. The prevalence of manifest atherosclerosis in this population was established on the basis of well-defined diagnostic criteria. Manifest coronary heart disease was twice as frequent among Jewish than among Italian men but no ethnic difference could be discerned among the women; the sex difference in prevalence was well marked. In contrast, aortic atherosclerosis, diagnosed on the basis of roentgenorgraphic evidence of calcification in the thoracic and abdominal aorta, showed neither an ethnic nor a sex difference. Data on the prevalence of peripheral artery disease and calcifications in the arteries of the leg were also presented. Prevalence rates for hypertensive and rheumatic heart disease were also given. The reported data include information on relative weight, height, and other bodily characteristics, blood pressure and serum lipid levels, the prevalence of diabetes and the general state of health among this representative population sample and in the two main constituent ethnic groups. Jewish men and women were shown to have higher serum cholesterol levels than their Italian counterparts but serum phospholipid levels were similar in the two ethnic groups. Serum uric acid levels were higher in men than in women but similar in Italians and Jews. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels showed a rise with age but no ethnic difference. No ethnic difference was demonstrated in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. An analysis of certain insurance records pertaining to this population group confirmed the evidence based on examination of the random population sample that coronary heart disease indeed occurred more commonly among Jewish than Italian men. The study provides an example of a comprehensive epidemiologic study of manifest atherosclerosis and should establish a basis for comparison with other much-needed surveys of this kind.