Epidemiology, aetiology, risk of rupture and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: does sex matter?

Abstract

Objectives: To unravel the extent to which gender plays a role in the epidemiology, aetiology, risk of rupture and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and to give an overview of these factors.

Design, materials and methods: A literature review was performed in the Medline database and Cochrane Library for gender-specific articles on epidemiology, aetiology, risk of rupture and treatment of AAAs.

Results: Our literature review suggests that the prevalence of AAA in women is underestimated. Regarding aetiology, an oestrogen-mediated reduction in macrophage MMP-9 production seems to be an important mechanism causing gender-related differences in AAA development. We found consensus in the literature that women run a greater risk of rupture compared to men under the current management rules for AAAs. Their treatment mortality also seems to be higher for both elective and ruptured repair.

Conclusions: Gender-specific guidelines should be put into place for the management of AAAs and awareness for this disease should be increased, both in women themselves and in their doctors.