Overall, 96.4 percent of events in men aged younger than 75 years occur in ever smokers
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two-thirds of acute abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) events occur in those aged ≥75 years, with most events in men younger than 75 years occurring in smokers, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Dominic P.J. Howard, D.Phil., from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a prospective, population-based study to determine the incidence and outcome of acute AAA events, and the impact of screening.
The researchers identified 103 incident acute AAA events over the 12-year study period within the study population of 92,728. The incidence was 55, 112, and 298/100,000/year for men aged 65 to 74, 75 to 85, and 85 years or older, respectively. Sixty-six percent of all events occurred at age 75 years or older. Among those aged 65 to 74 years, incidence was highest among male smokers, with most (96.4 percent) events in men aged younger than 75 years occurring in ever-smokers. Using trial evidence of screening efficacy, extrapolating rates to the U.K. population, the current U.K. screening program would prevent 5.6 percent of aneurysm-related deaths. By 2030, 91 percent of deaths are expected to occur at age ≥75 years, with 28.6 percent occurring in women.
“Given that two-thirds of acute AAA occurred at ≥75 years of age, screening older age groups should be considered,” the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
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