An Autopsy Study of Histopathological Examination of Coronary Atherosclerosis by Modified American Heart Association Classification in a Tertiary Care Centre

Background: The study was conducted to assess the atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries in autopsy cases, grading them with reference to the Modified American Heart Association (AHA) classification. It also aimed to evaluate atheromatous plaques to determine the age and sex-related prevalence of atherosclerosis at B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad. Methods: Autopsies were conducted on 100 cases between the ages of 10-75 years, during the period from January 2023 to July 2023, using conventional techniques. A microscopic assessment of two main coronary arteries was performed. Results: According to the Modified AHA classification of atherosclerosis, the maximum number of cases belonged to the 40-49 years age group (46 cases), followed by the 21-39 years age group (29 cases). Out of the 100 cases, 85 were male and 15 were female. The degree of atherosclerosis in the left coronary artery (LCA) was greater in comparison to the right coronary artery (RCA). Pathological intimal thickening (PIT), intimal thickening (non-atherosclerotic), and calcified nodules were common lesions found in these coronaries. PIT was the most common lesion involving the coronaries and is the precursor lesion for the development of advanced lesions. Conclusion: Coronary artery disease is reaching pandemic proportions, so the study of subclinical atherosclerosis is crucial to estimate the disease burden in the asymptomatic population. Autopsy-based studies for evaluating the prevalence of atherosclerosis in a population are cost-effective procedures and help in estimating the future disease burden in the population.