Familial occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• A family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a known risk factor for disease development.
• Understanding familial risk is crucial for early detection and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in first-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with the condition.
• To identify specific risk factors within families that contribute to AAA prevalence.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional ultrasonographic screening study was conducted.
• The study included 238 first-degree relatives (age > 50) of AAA patients and 281 controls.
• Aortic diameter was measured using ultrasonography to detect AAA and aortic dilatation.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of AAA was significantly higher in first-degree relatives (10.9% of brothers) compared to controls (1.5% of men).
• Family history, male sex, and increasing age were identified as significant risk factors for AAA.
• A family history of AAA increased the risk by 4.33-fold, male sex by 12.21-fold, and age by decade by 1.93-fold.

Conclusions:

• Aging brothers of patients with known abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) exhibit the highest risk for developing the disease.
• The prevalence of AAA in siblings over 60 years of age is approximately 18%.
• Screening first-degree relatives, particularly male siblings, is recommended for early detection of AAA.