Aortic aneurysms in a general population cohort: prevalence and risk factors in men and women.

AIMS: The prevalence and difference in risk factors for having thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men compared with women in the general population is not well described. This study aimed to test the hypotheses that (i) cardiovascular risk factors for TAA and AAA differ and (ii) the prevalence of TAA and AAA is sex specific. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aortic examination using computed tomography angiography was performed in 11 294 individuals (56% women), with a mean age of 62 (range 40-95) years participating in the Copenhagen General Population Study. TAAs were defined as an ascending aortic diameter ≥45 mm and a descending aortic diameter ≥35 mm, while AAAs were defined as an abdominal aortic diameter ≥30 mm. Demographic data were obtained from questionnaires. Overall prevalence of aortic aneurysms (AAs) in the study population included: total population 2.1%, men 4.0% and women 0.7% (P-value men vs. women P < 0.001). AAs were independently associated with male sex, increasing age, and body surface area (BSA). While TAAs were associated with hypertension, odds ratio (OR) = 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-2.8], AAAs were associated with hypercholesterolaemia and smoking, OR = 2.4 (95% CI: 1.6-3.6) and 3.2 (95% CI: 1.9-5.4). CONCLUSION: Subclinical AAs are four times more prevalent in men than in women. In both sexes, increasing age and BSA are risk factors for AAs of any anatomical location. Whereas arterial hypertension is a risk factor for TAAs, hypercholesterolaemia and smoking are risk factors for AAAs.

Volume and dimensions of angiographically normal coronary arteries assessed by multidetector computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine normal values for coronary artery volume (CAV) and individual vasculature and segment dimensions. METHODS: We examined 200 healthy volunteers with an Agatston score of 0 and a normal, high quality coronary CTA. Using 320 slice multidetector row CT and designated vessel tracing software with border detection algorithm, the main coronary arteries and branches were delineated and total and segmental dimensions calculated. RESULTS: 2931 segments (98.9%) could be adequately delineated. Of the 173 subjects with adequate coronary delineations, 140 subjects (81%) received nitroglycerin (NTG) prior to the scan. CAV was 4.33 ml (95% CI: 2.27-6.39) in subjects with NTG and 2.55 ml (95% CI: 0.34-4.76) in subjects without NTG (p < 0.0001). Left ventricular mass (LVM) was strongly correlated with CAV (p < 0.0001) independently of body surface area and gender, whereas gender was not independently correlated with CAV. From right, balanced to left coronary dominance, the left anterior descending artery vasculature mean contribution to CAV increased slightly (37%, 40% and 43%, p = 0.002), and the mean contributions of right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex artery (LCX) vasculature was inversely related - from right, balanced to left 46%, 32% and 16% for RCA (p < 0.0001); and 16%, 27% and 38% for LCX (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Normal values for coronary artery volume as assessed by coronary CTA are reported. They strongly correlate with NTG administration and left ventricular mass. The respective contribution of the left and right coronary vascularture is influenced by coronary dominance.