[Early detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm in risk population]

An aneurysm is the increase in diameter of an artery>50%; the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the most frequent. Abdominal ultrasound is an accessible study, highly recommended for diagnosis. Screening at risk populations reduces morbidity and mortality of this disease.

To determine the frequency of AAA by duplex Doppler in patients older than 65 years old with risk factors. A cross sectional study was performed, from June to October 2012, 144 patients were included, both genders, >65 years. The diameter of the infrarenal abdominal aorta was measured by duplex Doppler. AAA was defined as an aorta with diameter>3 cm.

Mean age was 72.7±6.7, 95.1% were male, 13% continued smoking. 127 of 144 were normal. 10 of 144 had AAA with diameters of 3.2 to 7.11 cm, all of them male. Logistic regression showed that active smoking is a significant predictive factor for AAA.

There is a significant frequency of AAA in male patients>65 years old.