Sudden Death from Coronary Atherosclerosis

At present there are suggestive, but as yet not completely substantiated, differences in the incidence of coronary artery disease between the sexes and among the races, the various body types, and those engaged in different degrees of physical activity. Further studies are necessary in a variety of different population groups in order to confirm or deny these differences. The validity of these differences must be firmly established before there can be enthusiastic and intensive pursuit of the basic mechanisms responsible for these differences. In order to accumulate more evidence along these lines a population group consisting of all of the deaths caused by coronary artery disease over a period of seven years in one community under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner's office was analyzed concerning some of the factors thought to be involved in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. During the period of this study West-chester County had an