DILATATION AND UNFOLDING OF THE AORTA IN A JAMAICAN POPULATION

Abstract

Unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Jamaica, undertook a chest X-ray survey of a rural population in Jamaica with the primary objective of determining the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (Miall and Rerrie, 1961). During the reading of the 70 mm. films, we were struck by the high prevalence ofaortic and other cardiovascular abnormalities. As the survey had been carried out in a geographically defined population in which over 90 per cent of subjects were X-rayed, it was possible to compare the characteristics of those with radiologically detected cardiovascular abnormalities with those of an age and sex matched control group drawn by random methods from those subjects in the same population who were free of such abnormalities. This paper reports the results of this comparison.