Radiological screening of abdominal aortic aneurysm in individuals over 65

Hatice A. H., SİNDEL H. T., Yılmaz S., Mehmet Sedat D., KEVEN A., ÖZGÜR Ö.

Dicle Tıp Dergisi, cilt.42, sa.4, 2015 (Hakemli Dergi) identifier

Özet

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of AAA in aged 65 years and above that had been referred for US screening, the association between risk factors for atherosclerosis and AAA, and the effectiveness of screening a population aged 65 years and above with atherosclerosis risk factors using ultrasound (US).

Methods: Patients 65 years and over who had undergone US examination for any reason were invited to participate. The 600 patients (335 male, 265 female) who agreed to participate completed a survey of atherosclerosis risk factors. Aneurysm levels in patients with infrarenal or suprarenal AAA were measured using US. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the relationship between AAA and several atherosclerosis risk factors.

Results: Of the 600 patients, 35 (5.8%; 33 male and 2 female) patients were diagnosed with AAA. Males and females represented 94.3% and 5.7% of the AAA-diagnosed population, respectively, and 5.5% and 0.3% of the screened population, respectively. Thirty of the AAA-diagnosed patients (85.7%) were between 65 and 79 years and 5 (14.3%) 80 years and above. A significant relationship was found between AAA and advanced age, male sex, smoking, and coronary artery disease and an inverse relationship between AAA and diabetes mellitus (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Individuals age 65 and over with atherosclerotic risk factors for AAA should be screened to prevent possible rupture. Performance of US in radiology clinics is an effective means of identifying these patients.