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(Stroke. 2008;39:3079.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Letters

Prevalence and Correlates of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Alaska Eskimos

The GOCADAN Study

Alexis Cutchins, MD; Mary J. Roman, MD; Richard B. Devereux, MD; Sven O.E. Ebbesson, PhD; Jason G. Umans, MD, PhD; Jianhui Zhu, PhD; Neil J. Weissman, MD Barbara V. Howard, PhD

From Division of Cardiology (A.C., M.J.R., R.B.D.), Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Norton Sound Health Corporation (S.O.E.E.), Nome, Alaska; and MedStar Research Institute (J.G.U., J.Z., N.J.W., B.V.H.), Washington, DC.

Correspondence to Mary J. Roman, MD, Division of Cardiology, 520 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021. E-mail mroman{at}med.cornell.edu

Background and Purpose— The recent increase in clinical cardiovascular disease in Alaska Eskimos suggests that changes in traditional lifestyle may have adverse public health consequences. This study examines the prevalence of subclinical vascular disease and its relation to risk factors in Alaska Eskimos.

Methods— Participants in the population-based Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives (GOCADAN) Study underwent evaluation of cardiovascular disease risk factors and carotid ultrasound. Outcome variables were carotid intimal-medial thickness and presence and extent of atherosclerosis.

Results— In multivariate analyses, intimal-medial thickness and presence and extent of atherosclerosis were all associated with traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors but not dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Rates of carotid atherosclerosis were higher than those reported in 2 large population-based US studies.

Conclusions— Alaska Eskimos have similar traditional risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis as other ethnic and racial populations but have higher prevalences of atherosclerosis, possibly attributable to higher rates of smoking.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • carotid intimal-medial thickness • risk factors

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