Different disease profiles for women and men with abdominal aortic aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
The overall aim with this study was to investigate causes of death and mortality rates for women and men treated for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in Sweden.


METHODS
All patients treated for ruptured and non-ruptured AAA 1987-2002 in Sweden were identified in national registries (n=12917). Age, sex, diagnosis, surgical procedure and mortality were analysed on a patient specific level. Logistic regression and analysis of standardised mortality rates (SMR) were performed.


RESULTS
Post operative mortality was similar between the sexes. Age (p<0.0001), and surgery for rupture (p=0.0005), but not gender (p=0.65) were significant risk factor for poor long term survival. SMR revealed increased risk for both sexes compared to the population with significantly higher values for women than men (2.26, CI 2.10-2.43 vs. 1.63, CI 1.57-1.68, p<0.0001). The higher risk for women could be explained by the higher risk for aneurysm related death (ie.thoracic or abdominal aorta) compared to men (Hazard ratio 1.57 vs. 1.0, p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Women do not have an increased surgical risk compared to men, but treated women have an increased risk of premature death compared to men and women in the population. They also have a higher risk for aneurysm related death compared to men with AAA.
Hultgren
R
R
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. rebecka.hultgren@karolinska.se
Granath
F
F
Swedenborg
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology