Prevalence and association of advanced atherosclerotic lesions in cerebral and coronary arteries: An autopsy study

Objectives: This study investigates the association between atherosclerosis in cerebral and coronary arteries through postmortem examinations conducted in medicolegal cases at a tertiary care center in central India. Materials and Methods: Autopsy samples were systematically collected and subjected to histopathological analysis. The grading of lesions was performed to assess their prevalence in specific arteries. Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using RStudio, applying univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Continuous variables were tested for normality and analyzed using analysis of variance or t -tests for normally distributed data and Kruskal–Wallis/Mann–Whitney U tests for non-normal data. Results: Our findings revealed the presence of advanced lesions in 16.13% of the basilar artery, 4.84% of the posterior cerebral artery, 24.19% of the internal carotid artery, 11.29% of the middle cerebral artery, 23.44% of the right coronary artery, 46.88% of the left anterior descending artery, and 18.75% of the left circumflex artery. A multivariate analysis indicated a significantly higher likelihood (odds ratio = 7.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.73, 38.9, P = 0.011) of advanced lesions in intracerebral arteries if advanced lesions were present in coronary arteries. Conclusions: These findings reinforce the systemic nature of atherosclerosis and underscore the need for targeted preventive interventions.