Key result
The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in COPD patients was 3.70% overall and 6.72% among males aged >65 years, with risk increasing with additional comorbidities.
Why the study?
What is the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with COPD?
Cross-Sectional (n=589)
What is the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with COPD?
Male COPD patients aged >65 years have a high prevalence of AAA (6.72%), suggesting targeted screening in this subgroup may be efficient.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
AAA prevalence in COPD matches general population overall; leaves open whether subgroup screening in older males with comorbidities warrants targeted trials.
PURPOSE: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in "men aged over 65 years who have ever smoked" is a recommended policy. To reduce the number of screenings, it may be of value to define subgroups with a higher prevalence of AAA. Since chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and AAA are associated with several common risk factors, this study investigates the prevalence of AAA in COPD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with COPD were identified via the hospital information system. Inclusion criteria were: COPD stage I-IV, ability to give full consent, and age >18 years; exclusion criteria were: patient too obese for an ultrasound check, previously diagnosed AAA, prior surgery for AAA, or ethical grounds such as concomitant advanced malignant or end-stage disease. The primary endpoint of the study was an aortic diameter measured by ultrasound of ≥30 mm. Defined secondary endpoints were evaluated on the basis of medical records and interviews. RESULTS: Of the 1,180 identified COPD patients, 589 were included in this prospective study. In 22 patients (3.70%), the aortic diameter was ≥30 mm, representing an AAA prevalence of 6.72% among males aged >65 years. The risk of AAA increased with the following comorbidities/risk factors: male sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.98), coronary heart disease (OR 2.81), peripheral arterial occlusive disease (OR 2.47), hyperlipoproteinemia (OR 2.77), AAA in the family history (OR 3.95), and COPD stage I/II versus IV (OR 1.81). CONCLUSION: The overall AAA prevalence of 3.7% in our group of COPD patients is similar to that of the general population aged >65 years. However, the frequency of AAA in male COPD patients aged >65 years is considerably higher (6.72%) and increased further still in those individuals with additional comorbidities/risk factors. Defining subgroups with a higher risk of AAA may increase the efficiency of screening.
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Flessenkaemper et al. (2015) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=589). COPD was evaluated on aortic diameter measured by ultrasound of ≥30 mm. The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in COPD patients was 3.70% overall and 6.72% among males aged >65 years, with risk increasing with additional comorbidities.
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