Trends in mortality and hospital morbidity due to abdominal aortic aneurysms

This article examines national and regional trends in mortality and morbidity due to abdominal aortic aneurysms from 1969 to 1991. Annual age-adjusted mortality and hospital separation rates were calculated for men and women aged 55 and older whose underlying cause of death was abdominal aortic aneurysm, or who were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm. In recent decades, abdominal aortic aneurysm mortality rates remained stable, in contrast to substantial declines in mortality rates for cerebrovascular disease and cardiovascular disease. The pattern was similar for both sexes, although rates were four to five times higher among men than among women. In 1991, age-adjusted rates were around 31.0 per 100,000 men aged 55 and over and 8.5 per 100,000 women aged 55 and over. Over the 1969 to 1991 period, mortality rates in all regions tended to converge. Although mortality rates were stable, hospital separation rates for abdominal aortic aneurysms increased sharply, particularly for unruptured aneurysms. Screening programs have been able to detect asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms, and surgical intervention can substantially reduce mortality. However, the costs and benefits of screening programs should be assessed. If current mortality rates persist, as the baby boom ages there will be an absolute increase in the number of deaths from abdominal aortic aneurysms.