Atherosclerosis and myocardial disease in relation to physical activity of occupation

Abstract

This study supports the data of other authors in finding that the proportional mortality of sudden heart death and coronary heart disease is greater in men aged 40-59 years with sedentary occupations than in those with strenuous occupations. Clear evidence was found of an association between the extent of raised coronary lesions (mainly fibrous plaque and calcified lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery and complicated lesions in each artery) and inactivity of occupation. The evidence for a similar association with the prevalence of coronary stenosis, myocardial lesions, and the extent of raised lesions of the aorta was suggestive but less clear. There was no evidence of an association between the physical activity of occupation and the extent of calcified lesions in the aorta or coronary arteries. Prevalence and extent of atherosclerotic and myocardial lesions were compared in each of 6 cause of death groups, between those who had been in strenuous, medium, and sedentary occupations.