Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

As yet no clear criteria are available for differentiation of normal from abnormal abdominal aortic diameter in relation to the development of aortic aneurysm. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the age-related changes in the abdominal aortic diameter. A total of 194 individuals (97 men and 97 women) aged twenty years or more with no abnormalities in the abdominal aorta on physical examination were measured by B-mode two-dimensional ultrasonography for the maximum anteroposterior diameter of the abdominal aorta.

Results were as follows:

1. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the age, height, and body weight were factors influencing the aortic diameter. The most significant factor among them was the age (the partial correlation coefficient was +0.811, P<0.01), and the next was the height (the partial correlation coefficient was +0.453, P < 0.01) .

2. The relationship between the diameter and the height was evaluated by stratification of the subjects at ten-year intervals. The correlation coefficients showed significant positive correlations observed in all age groups (P< 0.001) .

3. The relationship between the diameter and the age was studied according to the height by dividing the subjects into five height groups. The correlation coefficients showed significant positive correlations observed in all height groups (P < 0.001 ) .

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Collin J. , Arajo L. , Walton J. : How fast do very small abdominal aortic aneurysms grow? Eur J Vasc Surg 3:15-17, 1989.

Collin J. : A proposal for a precise definition of abdominal aortic aneurysm. J Cardiovasc Surg 31:168-169, 1990.

Collin J. , Walton J. : A community detection program for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Angiology 41:53-58, 1990.

Otsu S. : Arterial changes: Age-related changes. Ronen-byo 6:38-52, 1962.

Murata H. : Angiometric study of the aorta: Part 1, Biometric study of the aorta and the relationship of the aortic dimensions with the height, body weight, and cardiac weight. J Juzenkai 35:2469-2540, 1930 .

Murata H. : Angiometric study of the aorta: Part 2, Pathologic evaluation of measurement of the aorta. J Juzenkai 36:777-862, 1931.

Tomonaga T. , Yoshida K. : Relationship between the aortic diameter and the age. Jpn J Legal Med 22:78-79, 1968.

Yoshimura M. : Forensic medical study of the aortic diameter. 1. Estimation of the age from the width of the origin of the aorta. Jpn J Legal Med 23:334-335, 1969.

Funao T. , Kurihara F. , Sugie H. , et al: Study of the aorta from the viewpoint of forensic medicine. Jpn J Legal Med 28:229-230, 1974.

10.

Yamauti H. , Shigeno T. , Homma N. : Estimation of age from the width of aorta in humans. Jpn J Legal Med 35:209-210, 1981.

11.

Tadokoro Y. : Measurement of arteries in the Japanese. J Anat 2:718-747, 1929.

12.

Naruo M. , Inoguchi S. , Kimura T. , et al: Age-related changes in the arterial girth in adults. Showa Med J 36:233-242, 1976.

13.

Muraki N. : Ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta: Evaluation of intramural thrombi in abdominal aortic aneurysm. J Jpn Coll Angiol 23:401-413, 1983.

14.

Comes MN , Choyke PL : Pre-operative evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Ultrasound or computed tomography? J Cardiovasc Surg 28:159-166, 1987.

15.

Comes MN , Haddal HG , Schellinger D. : Ultrasonography and CT scanning: A comparative study of abdominal aortic aneurysms . Comput Tomog 2:99-109, 1978.

16.

Segel BL , Likoff W. , Asperger Z. , et al: Ultrasound diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Am J Cardiol 17:101-103, 1966.

17.

Goldberg BB , Ostrum BJ , Isard HJ : Ultrasonic aortography. JAMA 198:119-124, 1966.

18.

McDowell DE , Burke P. , Elyaderani MK : Ultrasound findings in an atherosclerotic aneurysm shortly before rupture. J Clin Ultrasound 13:37-39, 1985.

19.

Shuman WP , Hastrup W. , Kohler TR , et al: Suspected leaking abdominal aortic aneurysms: Use of sonography in the emergency room. Radiology 168:117-119, 1988.

20.

Birnholz JC : Alternatives in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm: Combined use of isotope aortography and ultrasonography. Am J Roentgen Ther Nucl Med 118:809-813, 1973.

21.

Duffy P. , Ryan J. , Aldous W. : Abdominal aortic echography. Aust Radiol 19: 361-369, 1975.

22.

Lee KR , Waalls WJ , Matin NW , et al: A practical approach to the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms . Surgery 78:195-201, 1975.

23.

Wheeler WE , Beachley MC , Ranniger K. : Angiography and ultrasonography. Am J Roentgen Radium Nucl 126:95-100, 1976.

24.

Darling RC , Messina CR , Bremster DC , et al: Autopsy study of unoperated abdominal aortic aneurysms: The case for early resection. Cardiovasc Surg 56:161-164, 1977.

25.

Nakajima T. , Tanikawa J. , Yamamoto H. , et al: Senility and atherosclerosis of the human aorta. J Jpn Coll Angiol 12:85-91, 1972.

26.

Sato T. , Horita H. : Age-related changes in physiologic functions of the vascular wall. Gendai Iryo 23:2371-2377, 1991.

27.

Bader H. : Dependence of wall stress in the human thoracic aorta on age and pressure . Circ Res 20:354-361, 1967.

28.

Miall WE , Lovell HC : Relation between change of blood pressure and age. Br Med J 2:660-664, 1967.

29.

Safar ME , London GE : Blood pressure in relation to physical aging processes in the arterial wall . In: Handbook of Hypertension, ed. by Amery A , Staessen J. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., 1989, pp 70-84.

Age-Related Changes in the Abdominal Aortic Diameter

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References