Aortic dissection: global epidemiology

Aortic dissection is a highly fatal disease with limited predictability requiring emergency response. It remains a challenging clinical problem and has a reported lower 5-year survival rate, especially in acute cases. Studying the epidemiology of aortic dissection can be important for targeting key populations and developing public health policies. Past studies have focused more on the in-hospital and follow-up mortality associated with aortic dissection but the global epidemiology review is still lacking. Incidence data have rarely been generated or provided. We estimated and analyzed the incidence of aortic dissection in all 195 countries and 54 regions worldwide and in the population structures of 15 selected countries. We further reviewed risk factors and baseline characteristics related to aortic dissection. We outlined the topic in terms of the biological, social, environmental, and psychosocial factors. Public health departments should screen target groups and key regions and introduce policies for disease prevention and relieve the high medical burdens.