[Abdominal aortic aneurysm in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
Complication-free abdominal aortic aneurysm is often asymptomatic and its diagnosis is therefore frequently coincidental. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is often suddenly manifested during the rupture stage, resulting in the patient's death. The importance of early diagnosis is therefore clear, enabling optimal monitoring and correct management. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: This retrospective study evaluated the incidence of AAA in 1304 over-65-year-olds in care. The authors examined the presence of AAA-related symptoms, risk factors and the concomitance of other pathologies.


RESULTS
Four subjects were diagnosed with AAA, equivalent to 0.3% of the total population. All were male, smokers, with multidistrict atherosclerosis in association with other pathologies.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of AAA in the population of over-65-year-olds examined was lower than that reported in the literature. This discrepancy was due to the fact that the abdominal aorta is not usually examined in clinical practice. However, the high mortality rate of AAA during rupture prompted the authors to evaluate this disorder in high-risk patients.
Mattace Raso
F
F
Cattedra di Geriatria e Gerontologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi, Catanzaro.
Bonacci
E
E
Pansini
L
L
Mattace
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
L'aneurisma dell'aorta addominale nell'anziano.