Trends in abdominal aortic aneurysms: a 13 year review.
OBJECTIVE
To assess changing trends of abdominal aortic aneurysms 1979-1991.


METHODS
Retrospective study from the Leicestershire Health Authority.


RESULTS
727 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated. Of these 56.4% were admitted for elective repair and 43.6% presented with rupture. There was a significant increase in the number of ruptured aortic aneurysms over this period despite an increase in the number of elective repairs. The overall 30-day mortality of elective repair (including patients with symptomatic but non-ruptured aneurysms) was 8.8%. The overall 30-day mortality of ruptured aneurysms (including patients who were deemed medically too unfit for surgery) was 57.7%. There has been no significant change in elective and ruptured mortality over the study period. There was a significant increase in the median age of patients (69.5 yrs in 1979 to 74 yrs in 1991).


CONCLUSIONS
The increasing incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms may reflect better diagnostic methods, greater clinical awareness of the condition and increase in the proportion of elderly people in the population.
Nasim
A
A
Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, U.K.
Sayers
R D
RD
Thompson
M M
MM
Healey
P A
PA
Bell
P R
PR
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007256:Information Systems; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution