Female gender was associated with a faster age-related increase in ascending aorta diameter than male gender (+3.4% vs +2.6% per decade; P<0.001), leading to similar absolute diameters after age 70.
Cross-Sectional (n=195)
How does aortic geometry change with age and gender in adults free of vascular disease?
Women have more dynamic ascending aortic growth throughout life compared to men, resulting in similar absolute aortic diameters at older ages despite smaller dimensions at a young age.
OBJECTIVES: Aortic geometry changes throughout life are not well defined. This investigation delineates aortic geometry across the adult age spectrum and determines the gender-related influence of aging on aortic morphometry. METHODS: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans of all aortic segments in 195 subjects (94 women, 101 men, average age 57 ± 20 years) free of vascular disease were analysed. Lengths and diameters of each aortic segment as well as width, height and tortuosity of the thoracic aorta were compared between both genders. RESULTS: Aortic diameters and lengths were larger in men than women (P 70 years old: 3.4 ± 0.3 vs 3.5 ± 0.3 cm, P = 0.241). CONCLUSIONS: Female gender is associated with smaller aortic dimensions, but only at a young age. The dynamics of aortic growth throughout life are greater in women than in men. Gender-related changes in aortic geometry provide a hypothesis for the predominance of aortic dissection in young male patients, which normalizes between genders with increasing age.
Rylski et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Free of vascular disease (n=195). Female gender vs. Male gender was evaluated on Aortic geometry (lengths, diameters, width, height, and tortuosity). Female gender was associated with a faster age-related increase in ascending aorta diameter than male gender (+3.4% vs +2.6% per decade; P<0.001), leading to similar absolute diameters after age 70.