Demographic Differences in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Different Countries: Germany, Tajikistan and Russian Federation

Abstract

Objective. To compare the demographics, comorbidities and risk factors in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) treated in three different communities; Germany, Tajikistan and Russian Federation. Methods. A retrospective comparative study including patients with an infrarenal AAA who were treated with either endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open repair (2011-2015) in Cologne, Dushanbe and Ryazan was done. A total number of 711 patients, 499 from Cologne, 46 from Dushanbe and 166 from Ryazan were included in the study. Demographic data including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities (diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD)), hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, smoking), actual treatment as well as the diameter of the abdominal aorta were collected, retrospectively. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in AAA prevalence with respect to gender between the study centers. Similarly, the BMI did not differ significantly between these 3 centers. Though, the patients from Cologne were older than those from Dushanbe and Ryazan. Moreover, the number of patients treated due to ruptured aneurysm was significantly lower in Cologne in comparison to the other two centers (P<0.05). The AAA-diameter of patients in Ryazan and Dushanbe was greater than that found in Cologne. Regarding the actual medication that patients were presented with, antiplatelet-aggregation medication, statin and beta blockers were used significantly more often in Cologne. Patients from Tajikistan had COPD more often than patients from the other centers. Conclusion. The prevalence of comorbidities, risk factors as well as medication in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm is different in the various geographical regions. What this paper adds The study demonstrates that the prevalence of comorbidities, risk factors as well as medication in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm is different in the various geographical regions. These differences have been firstly demonstrated in patients from the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.