VARIATION OF ABDOMINAL AORT DIAMETERS iN RELATION TO AGE AND GENDER iN TURKEY: MULTICENTER STUDY

Material and methods: Between March 1998-May 2000, 596 (302 female -294 male) patients undergoing an abdo­ minal ultrasonography or computed tomography examination for pathologies other than aorta in three different cities were enroled into the study prospectively. The mean age of the patients was 48±16 years (6-88 years). The anterior­ posterior axis aortic diameters were meausered at the subdiaphragmatic level and the aortic bifurcation level using ultrasonography and computed tomography.

Results: The mean aortic diameters in the whole group was 19.3±.3.9 mm (10-45 mm) at the subdiaphragmatic le­ vel and was 15.7±3.6 mm (9-65 mm) at the aortic bifurcation level. The mean subdiafragmatic aortic diameter was 18±3 mm in females and 19±4 mm in males (p=0.019). The mean aortic diameters at the aortic bifurcation level we­ re 15±3 mm in males and 16±4 mm in females (p=0.000). An aortic bifurcation diameter greater than 30 mm was encountered in 0.67% of the whole populaiton. This ratio was 2.1% far the population over 55 years of age regardless of sex. A subdiaphragmatic aorta diameter above 30 mm was absorved in 1.2% of the population. This ratio increased ta 2.9% for the population over 55 years of age and it was 3.9% for males and 1.9% for females in this age group.

Discussion: in this national study we have found aortic diameter values similar ta the world literature when subdiaphragmatic level measurements were used. The use of aortic bifurcation levels measurements revealed lower me­ an diameters. Aneurysmal dilatation rates obtained in this study confirm ta the world literature. Considering thi signi­ ficant number of patients with aneurysmal dilatation in the elderly population, we believe it would be prudent ta evaluate the aorta in all elderly patients undergoing an abdominal ultrasonography examination and the subdiaphrag­ matic levels can be used tor obtaining these diameters far easier standardization.