Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Risk factors for diametric progression in non-operated patients

Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a disease of modern age, which occurs mostly in elderly people, after the age of 65 years. Epidemiological studies have shown that the development of AAA is correlated with certain risk factors including smoking, as well as presence of comorbidities like hypertension and hyperlipidemia. In our country, the diagnosis of AAA is based on ultrasound examination. Aim: To analyze the speed and factors influencing the progression of AAA diameter. Material and methods: Our study included 52 patients who were not eligible for surgical treatment. Patients were examined successively and risk factors were observed as well as comorbidities were obtained and life habits of those patients. Results: Average age of patients was 71.5 years. 46 patients (86,5 %) were smokers. Average diameter of AAA was 42.5mm. The correlation between the speed of AAA diameter progression and comorbidities wasn't found. There wasn't found correlation between difference between time interval of next follow-up visit and AAA diameter (χ 2 = 0.4164, p = 0.549). Average growth of AAA between first and second measurement was 2.79 mm (X = 2.5, S.D. 3.1). There was correlation between initial diametric size and growth of aneurysm R =-0.329 (p = 0.017). Conclusion: In our study we didn't find the correlation between comorbidities and AAA growth. Concerning small number of patients, studies with this topic that analyze larger number of patients are recommended. Patients with smaller AAA showed slower progression in diameter, which require their less frequent follow-up visit.