THE PREVALENCE OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN AN AUSTRALIAN RURAL COMMUNITY1

Abstract

3,410 adults of the community of Busselton, Western Australia, representing 91% of the target population, were screened over a two-week period in 1966. Standard questionnaires for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction recommended by the WHO were used, but a modified interpretation improved specificity. Eectrocardiographic findings were recorded in the Minnesota Code. The overall prevalence rate of “probable” coronary heart disease was 68 per 1,000 for males and 58 per 1,000 for females. The age- and sex-specific prevalence rates were very similar to those of Tecumseh, USA. Risk factors were analyzed using age- and sex- specific eightieth percentile values to simplify the data into “upper” and “lower” ranges. In both sexes, “upper range” serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels after a glucose load were each significantly and independently associated with coronary heart disease; the risk-ratio for each being approximately twofold. In males only, “upper range” serum uric add levels showed a strong relationship of similar magnitude to, and independent from, the association of “upper range” blood pressures. In common with other prevalence studies no significant association was found with obesity nor with current cigarette smoking and coronary heart disease.