Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and healing response of the arterial wall to endothelial injury. Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease of large and medium sized arteries. In case of sudden death cardiovascular disease (45-50%) was the most important cause of the sudden natural death among population. Coronary artery disease is responsible for over 70% of sudden cardiac death.
Aims and Objectives:
1. To study the frequency of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries.
2. To attribute atherosclerosis as the sole cause of natural deaths.
3. To classify atherosclerosis lesions in coronaries as per American Heart Association grading for atherosclerosis.
Material and Methods: The present study is cross sectional, observational carried out in the Department of Pathology at Tertiary Health Care Center during June 2018 to June 2022.A total of 1076 autopsy specimens were received. The heart was examined grossly. Distribution of atherosclerotic lesion in different coronaries was noted and microscopic grading of atherosclerosis was done using the Modified American Heart Association (AHA) classification of atherosclerosis. Result: Atherosclerosis was seen in 383 cases. The most common age group affected was 31-40 years in 103 cases (26.89%). Common cause of death was coronary atherosclerosis related morality in 45.69%. Conclusion: Despite major advances in medical interventional and surgical studies assessment of coronary atherosclerotic lesions in living subjects is difficult due to its invasive nature and high cost. So autopsy based study of coronary vessel is an invaluable tool for studying these lesions in deceased subjects.
