Age-Related Changes in the Abdominal Aortic Diameter

As yet no clear criteria are available for differentiation of normal from abnormal abdominal aortic diameter in relation to the development of aortic aneurysm. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the age-related changes in the abdominal aortic diameter. A total of 194 individuals (97 men and 97 women) aged twenty years or more with no abnormalities in the abdominal aorta on physical examination were measured by B-mode two-dimensional ultrasonography for the maximum anteroposterior diameter of the abdominal aorta. Results were as follows: 1. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the age, height, and body weight were factors influencing the aortic diameter. The most significant factor among them was the age (the partial correlation coefficient was +0.811, P<0.01), and the next was the height (the partial correlation coefficient was +0.453, P < 0.01) . 2. The relationship between the diameter and the height was evaluated by stratification of the subjects at ten-year intervals. The correlation coefficients showed significant positive correlations observed in all age groups (P< 0.001) . 3. The relationship between the diameter and the age was studied according to the height by dividing the subjects into five height groups. The correlation coefficients showed significant positive correlations observed in all height groups (P < 0.001 ) .