title: Relation of common carotid artery lumen diameter to general arterial dilating diathesis and abdominal aortic aneurysms: the Tromsø Study.
abstract: In a cross-sectional, population-based study in Tromsø, Norway, the authors investigated correlations between lumen diameter in the right common carotid artery (CCA) and the diameters of the femoral artery and abdominal aorta and whether CCA lumen diameter was a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Ultrasonography was performed in 6,400 men and women aged 25-84 years during 1994-1995. An AAA was considered present if the aortic diameter at the level of renal arteries was greater than or equal to 35 mm, the infrarenal aortic diameter was greater than or equal to 5 mm larger than the diameter of the level of renal arteries, or a localized dilation of the aorta was present. CCA lumen diameter was positively correlated with abdominal aortic diameter (r = 0.3, P < 0.01) and femoral artery diameter (r = 0.2, P < 0.01). In a multivariable adjusted model, CCA lumen diameter was a significant predictor of AAA in both men and women (for the fifth quintile vs. the third, odds ratios were 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.2, 2.9) and 4.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.5, 10.8), respectively). Thus, CCA lumen diameter was positively correlated with femoral and abdominal aortic artery diameter and was an independent risk factor for AAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. stein.harald.johnsen@unn.no
authors.forename: Stein Harald
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Oddmund
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Joakimsen
authors.forename: Kulbir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stensland
authors.forename: Signe Helene
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Forsdahl
authors.forename: Bjarne Koster
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006474:Hemorrhagic Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography