High frequency of thoracic aneurysms in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

Background: Different disease profiles between men and women treated for AAA have been reported. Reports regarding causes of death for treated AAA patients have shown an increased risk of death because of other aneurysms for women, possibly TAA. The prevalence of TAA in AAA patients is not well known.

Methods: Data for AAA patients attending the outpatient clinic at a university hospital were analyzed (N = 1055). Patients who had undergone abdominal and thoracic computed tomography were included (n = 354). The diameter of the aorta was measured in the ascending, descending, and infrerenal aorta. Comorbid conditions were analyzed.

Results: Mean age was 74 years, 23% were women. The presence of comorbid conditions did not differ between men and women except for a higher proportion of female smokers (P = 0.003). When sex-specific criteria were used, 100 patients (28%) had a TAA, 38 (48%) of the women compared with 62 (23%) of the men (P < 0.0001). Odds ratio for women compared with those of men to have a concurrent TAA was 3.09 (95% confidence interval, 1.84-5.22).

Conclusions: More than one fourth of patients with AAA attending a regular outpatient clinic have a concomitant TAA, and women are particularly affected. During the last decades, the therapeutic options for TAA patients have changed considerably. Physicians need to increase the efforts to investigate also the thoracic aorta in AAA patients.