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Prevalence of aortic aneurysms in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, 1979-84
D E Lilienfeld1, J Baxter, J M Sprafka
1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Abstract:
The discharge summaries for Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area residents hospitalized during 1979-84 were reviewed for diagnoses of aortic aneurysms. Annual age-specific and age-adjusted sex-specific hospital discharge diagnosis rates were calculated for all aortic aneurysms, dissecting aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms (nondissecting), and abdominal aortic aneurysms (nondissecting). For each aortic aneurysm type, hospital discharge diagnosis rates were found to increase with age for both men and women. Abdominal aortic aneurysms were the most common type reported (age-adjusted annual rates for men varied between 40.6 and 49.3 per 100,000 population; for women, between 6.8 and 12.0 per 100,000 population). Men were noted to have higher rates for each aneurysm type. An increasing temporal trend was observed for all aortic aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms among men. These findings are reviewed in light of recent data on mortality from aortic aneurysms in the United States.
Insights
Hospital discharge data from 1979-84 reveal that aortic aneurysm diagnoses increased with age in Minneapolis-St. Paul residents. Abdominal aortic aneurysms were most common, particularly in men, with rates rising over time.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Aortic aneurysms pose a significant health risk, with varying incidence across demographics.
- Understanding population-based trends in aortic aneurysm diagnoses is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in hospital discharge diagnoses for various types of aortic aneurysms.
- To examine age-specific and sex-specific incidence rates of aortic aneurysms.
- To investigate temporal trends in aortic aneurysm diagnoses within a defined metropolitan area.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of hospital discharge summaries for Minneapolis-St. Paul residents from 1979 to 1984.
- Calculation of annual age-specific and age-adjusted sex-specific hospital discharge diagnosis rates.
- Stratification of rates by aortic aneurysm type: all, dissecting, thoracic (nondissecting), and abdominal (nondissecting).
Main Results:
- Hospital discharge diagnosis rates for all aortic aneurysm types increased with age in both men and women.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms were the most frequently diagnosed type, with significantly higher rates in men.
- An increasing temporal trend in diagnoses was observed for all aortic aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms, particularly among men.
Conclusions:
- Aortic aneurysm diagnoses are strongly age-dependent and more prevalent in men.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms represent a substantial diagnostic burden, especially in the male population.
- The observed temporal trends suggest a potential increase in aortic aneurysm diagnoses requiring further investigation and public health attention.