On the association of cigarette smoking with coronary and aortic atherosclerosis

The association of cigarette smoking and atherosclerosis was investigated in 747 autopsied men, 20–64 years of age. Aortic and coronary lesions were evaluated visually in coded specimens and objectively by analysis of radiographs. Using schedules that had been tested for validity and reliability on pairs of living persons, interviewers obtained estimates of cigarette smoking habits of the deceased men from surviving relatives. Data have been analysed with reference to total sample and also to subsamples grouped according to the presence or absence of diseases thought to be associated with smoking (emphysema, lung cancer, etc.) or with coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, etc.). Atherosclerotic involvement of aorta and coronary arteries is greatest in heavy smokers and least in nonsmokers. Occupational physical activity and educational level achieved did not account for observed differences in extent of lesions.