Pattern and distribution of gross atherosclerotic changes in the cerebral arteries, coronary arteries, and aorta in persons above the age of 30 years in north kerala - an autopsy-based study.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as a pervasive source of illness and a prominent factor in death rates throughout the majority of nations. Atherosclerosis has been identified as the primary cause of this global health concern.

Methods: 150 cases older than 30 years were subjected to medicolegal autopsy in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kannur. During a medicolegal autopsy, while dissecting the aorta, coronary arteries and cerebral arteries; gross macroscopic changes brought on by atherosclerosis were examined and documented.

Results: The study group consisted primarily of males (62.7%) with an average age of 46.90±16.34 years. Nearly half of them were in their fourth and fifth decades of life. A total of 67 instances were diagnosed with atherosclerosis, with 22 of them falling within the age range of 40 to 49 years. 79 percent of these incidents involved males.

Conclusion: Atherosclerosis is becoming increasingly recognized as the primary cause of around one-third of all fatalities in India. Conducting a study on atherosclerosis in living individuals is challenging, as it requires invasive and costly procedures. This is particularly true in underdeveloped nations. Therefore, autopsies are crucial for documenting the occurrence of atherosclerosis in the population. This study will assist doctors in evaluating the overall arterial health of patients and developing therapeutic protocols and courses of treatment. Additionally, it will aid forensic pathologists in determining the cause of death in cases of sudden death.