title: [Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a rural population of 65-80 year-old males].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of aortic aneurysm (AAA) is reported to be 3.55%-4% in men over 65. But it is not known if this prevalence, resulting from ultrasound measurements made by Family Physicians, can be extrapolated to a rural population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of AAA in a rural population of males aged 65-80 years, using abdominal ultrasound by family physicians, and to identify its association with different cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted that included males of 65-80 years (n=320) in a rural population of the province of Ciudad Real, Spain. The dependent variable was the presence or not of AAA using ultrasound measurements of the aorta. Those with a diameter greater than or equal to 3cm were considered positive. Explanatory variables were measured; ankle/brachial index (ABI), body mass index (BMI), medical history of high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidaemia (DLP), ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), and smoking habits. A bivariate and multivariate analysis of the prevalences was performed, as well as a study of the agreement between observers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of AAA in the population was 3.3% (95% CI: 1.1-5.5%. DM and DLP were significantly associated with AAA. The agreement between observers was 0.96 (95% CI; 0.91-0.98). The high prevalence of different cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) was particularly noteworthy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of AAA in 65-80 year-old males in a rural population is similar to that found in the literature. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, CVRFs such as hypertension or CVA were not associated with the AAA. A screening program for the early detection of AAA could be introduced into Primary Health Care by family physicians.
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Atención Integrada La Mancha Centro, Servicio de Urgencias, Medicina Interna, Área de I.D.F., Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, España. Electronic address: lucasalcedo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salcedo Jódar
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Atención Integrada La Mancha Centro, Servicio de Urgencias, Medicina Interna, Área de I.D.F., Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, España.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alcázar Carmona
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Atención Integrada La Mancha Centro, Servicio de Urgencias, Medicina Interna, Área de I.D.F., Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, España.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tenías Burillo
authors.affiliation: Gerencia de Atención Integrada La Mancha Centro, Servicio de Urgencias, Medicina Interna, Área de I.D.F., Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, España.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Tejada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Aneurisma de la aorta abdominal; Aortic aneurysm abdominal; Cross-sectional studies; Enfermedades vasculares; Estudios transversales; Factores de riesgo; Risk factors; Vascular diseases