Ischemic Heart Disease Geography of the United States: Models of Environmental Influence With a Focus on the Eastern Highlands

Regional differences exist in ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality rates in the United States. These variations may in part be related to environmental factors. An examination was conducted in the U.S. on a sample of 101 county age-adjusted ischemic heart disease death rates and several possible environmental factors. A multiple regression model suggests that a combination of altitude, snowfall frequency, median family income, air pollution, and location in the Eastern Highlands may explain about 46% of the variance in ischemic heart disease mortality rates. Some facet of the environment in the Eastern Highlands may contribute to the higher rates found in that region. Coal worker's pneumoconiosis was suspected and tested with no concrete conclusion. The results suggest the importance of environment in the suspected multifactorial etiology of ischemic heart disease, but replication and further research is required. OHIO J. SCI. 91 (3): 134-138, 199