In an analysis of 1,242 necropsies, coronary calcified lesions were most prevalent in the left anterior descending artery, with greater involvement in whites, males, and coronary heart disease deaths.
Observational (n=1,242)
What is the prevalence, distribution, and clinical significance of coronary calcification in necropsy cases?
Coronary calcification is strongly associated with advanced coronary atherosclerosis, ischemic myocardial lesions, and coronary heart disease death, particularly in younger individuals.
Measurements of the per cent of the surface with calcified lesions have been made for the three main coronary arteries from 1,242 consecutive necropsies of whites and Negroes between the ages of 30 to 69 years. Calcified lesions were most prevalent and most extensive in the left anterior descending branch and occurred with greatest frequency at 2 to 3 cm. from the orifice. Whites had greater involvement than Negroes and males had greater involvement than females. Prevalence and extent of calcification have been compared in four cause-of-death or disease categories; cases dying of coronary heart disease had greater involvement than the other three groups. The prevalence of ischemic myocardial lesions, complicated coronary lesions, or stenotic lesions was greater for cases with calcified lesions, and this prevalence increases with increase in extent of calcified lesions. The significance of the presence of coronary calcified lesions for the diagnosis of advanced coronary atherosclerosis is greatest for younger individuals.
Eggen et al. (1965) conducted an observational in Coronary calcification (n=1,242). In an analysis of 1,242 necropsies, coronary calcified lesions were most prevalent in the left anterior descending artery, with greater involvement in whites, males, and coronary heart disease deaths.