Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms
Rev. Hosp. Clin. Fac. Med. Univ. Säo Paulo
;
58(2): 63-68, 2003. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-351997
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms may be useful to decrease mortality related to rupture. We conducted a study to assess the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in southern Brazil and to define risk factors associated with high prevalence of this disorder. The screening was conducted using abdominal ultrasound. Three groups were studied: Group 1 - cardiology clinic patients; Group 2 - individuals with severe ischemic disease and previous coronary surgery, or important lesions on cardiac catheterism; Group 3 - individuals without cardiac disease selected from the general population. All individuals were male and older than 54 years of age. The ultrasonographic diagnosis of aneurysm was based on an anteroposterior abdominal aorta diameter of 3 cm, or on an abdominal aorta diameter 0.5 cm greater than that of the supra-renal aorta. RESULTS: A total of 2.281 people were screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms in all groups: Group 1 - 768 individuals, Group 2 - 501 individuals, and Group 3 - 1012 individuals. The prevalence of aneurysms was 4.3 percent, 6.8 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively. Age and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with increased prevalence of aneurysms, as was the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease. DISCUSSION: We concluded that screening may be an important tool to prevent the mortality associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms surgery. Additionally, the cost of screening can be decreased if only individuals presenting significant risk factors, such as coronary and peripheral artery disease, smokers and relatives of aneurysm patients, are examined
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Mass Screening
/
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
/
Screening study
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. Hosp. Clin. Fac. Med. Univ. Säo Paulo
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2003
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas/BR
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