Cohort study of ethnic group and cardiovascular and total mortality over 15 years.

Altogether, 3365 men and 3266 women who attended two cardiovascular screenings in 1974-1975 and 1977-1978, have been followed with respect to death for an average of 15 years. The mortality from coronary heart disease was lower in men who reported being of Lappish origin than in men who reported Norse origin at both screenings (Rate ratio: 0.38 [0.20-0.71]), when other major risk factors were taken into account. Among men without history of cardiovascular disease or symptoms of angina pectoris the rate ratio became 0.24 (0.09-0.63). With cardiovascular death as the endpoint, the corresponding rate ratios were 0.42 (0.25-0.73) and 0.31 (0.15-0.67). In women, a non-significant lower mortality was seen in the Lappish group than in the Norse group. This study is suggestive of some protection from coronary heart disease in middle-aged men of Lappish origin.