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Infrarenal aortic diameter predicts all-cause mortality

Paul Norman1, Max Le, Carole Pearce

  • 1School of Surgery and Pathology, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia. pnorman@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
|May 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Larger infrarenal aortic diameter in older men is linked to increased risk of death. This finding highlights aortic size as an independent predictor of mortality, particularly from cardiovascular disease.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular biology and aging research
  • Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease
  • Geriatric medicine and mortality studies

Background:

  • The infrarenal aorta's diameter can change with age.
  • Understanding factors predicting mortality in elderly men is crucial for public health.
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening trials provide valuable data on aortic dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infrarenal aortic diameter and all-cause mortality.
  • To determine if aortic diameter is an independent predictor of mortality in men aged 65 and older.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound measurement of aortic diameter in 12,203 men aged 65-83.
  • Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and mortality via record linkage over 3-7 years.
  • Cox proportional hazard models used to analyze the relationship between aortic diameter and mortality risk.

Main Results:

  • A graded increase in all-cause mortality was observed with increasing aortic diameter.
  • Men with aortic diameters of 47-50 mm had a 2.38-fold increased hazard ratio for mortality compared to those with 19-22 mm diameters.
  • Cardiovascular disease was a significant contributor to the excess mortality associated with larger aortic diameters.

Conclusions:

  • Infrarenal aortic diameter serves as an independent marker for subsequent all-cause mortality in elderly men.
  • Aortic diameter measurement could be a valuable tool in risk stratification for mortality in older male populations.
Abstract

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