European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background and objectives: This research has been carried out on all the autopsies performed at a teaching hospital, satisfying the inclusion criteria with an objective to ascertain the presence or absence of atherosclerotic disease of the coronary blood vessels. Method: This is a histological study done on 445 heart specimens in the department of forensic medicine for a period of one year, irrespective of cause of death, age and sex to evaluate the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. Results: Out of the 445 specimens of hearts examined, the most commonly affected coronary blood vessel was the LAD. No atherosclerotic changes were noted in 32 heart specimens examined which belonged to individuals between 18 years to 45 years. Triple vessel disease was also encountered in many cases that were asymptomatic. Out of 31 cases of natural death, coronary artery disease was found in all the cases, in varying grades and death due to coronary insufficiency due to CAD was found in 9 cases. The higher grades of coronary artery atherosclerosis were found more towards advanced age group.  Males were more commonly affected than the females.