Angiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Racial Variation in Anatomic Distribution of Coronary Artery Lesions: New Zealand Maori are Seldom Treated for Right Coronary Disease

Paul G Bridgman and Christopher M Frampton

Identifying the underlying reasons for racial disparities in health care outcomes is a global priority. The anatomic distribution of coronary artery lesions has been shown to be highly heritable. We examine whether there is interracial variation in specific lesion location in patients undergoing coronary artery angioplasty. Ethnicity data was cross-referenced with data from a database containing all angioplasties performed at Christchurch Hospital between 01 January 2000 and 31 December 2004. In a total of 1992 patients there were 3426 lesions treated with coronary angioplasty. The distribution of these lesions varied significantly between Europeans and Maori (Chi-squared p=0.031). In Europeans 40% of lesions were in the left anterior descending coronary artery and 36% in the right coronary artery. In Maori 58% of lesions were in the left anterior descending coronary artery and 13% in the right coronary artery. This provides first evidence for there being inter-racial differences in the nature of coronary artery disease.