ABSTRACT
Incidence of ischaemic heart disease has been rising since 947. The reasons for this increase remain partly obscure. This is a study amongst serving armed forces personnel including officers and other ranks. Risk factors, pattern of coronary artery involvement, mode of presentation and status of left ventricular function etc were recorded. Total number of patients was five hundred. Equal number of officers and other ranks was included i.e two hundred fifty each. Most of the patients were under fifty years of age. Smoking and family history were the most common risk factors. Large number of patients had only one or two risk factors. Left anterior descending artery was the most frequently involved artery followed by right coronary artery. Single vessel disease was the most common pattern. Left ventricular function was normal in most of the patients. Acute myocardial infarction was the commonest mode of initial presentation. No significant difference [p value NS] was noted in pattern of risk factors, arteriographic findings and mode of presentation between officers and other ranks