title: Family history of aortic aneurysm is an independent risk factor for more rapid growth of small abdominal aortic aneurysms in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate risk factors associated with more rapid growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) <50 mm (small AAAs) in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively investigated the clinical data of 374 patients with small AAAs (maximum diameter, ≤50 mm) who were referred to The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, or Saitama Medical Center, between 1995 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 374 patients (321 men and 53 women) were followed up for a median of 66 months. The median diameter on initial examination was 40 mm, and the median growth rate of the AAAs was 2.1 mm/y. The growth rate of AAAs with an initial diameter ≥45 mm was significantly greater than those with an initial diameter <45 mm (3.3 mm/y vs 2.0 mm/y, respectively; P = .007). The growth rate of AAAs was significantly greater in patients with hypertension than in those without (2.3 mm/y vs 1.7 mm/y, respectively; P = .006) and in patients with a family history of aortic aneurysm than in those without (4.2 mm/y vs 2.0 mm/y, respectively; P = .009). Logistic regression analysis revealed that a large initial diameter and family history of aortic aneurysm were independent predictors of accelerated growth rate of small AAAs in Japan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, a large initial diameter and family history of aortic aneurysm were independent risk factors for more rapid growth of small AAAs. Although few studies have reported similar findings thus far, family history of aortic aneurysm should be carefully considered during follow-up of patients with small AAAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan. Electronic address: atsuakai@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akai
authors.affiliation: First Department of Physiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshina
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Obitsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Juno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Sanno Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography