title: A propensity score-matching analysis of transthoracic echocardiography and abdominal ultrasonography for the detection of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously reported that the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) was higher in patients undergoing scheduled transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) than in patients undergoing abdominal ultrasonography (AUS); however, intergroup patient backgrounds differed significantly in that report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We tested the hypothesis that TTE could detect AAA as effectively as AUS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A propensity score-matching analysis of a cross-sectional study was adopted as the design for this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 7,619 and 15,433 patients scheduled to undergo TTE with additional evaluation of abdominal aorta at the end of the routine study and AUS, respectively, from 2009 to 2010 in our hospital, as reported. A propensity score for profiles of patients who underwent TTE or AUS was developed to adjust for potential confounding bias. Consequently, 4,388 patients in each group were matched for analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In propensity-matched patients, AAA was detected in 59 patients of the TTE group and in 48 patients of the AUS group; the prevalence of AAA detection did not differ significantly between TTE and AUS groups (P = 0.331). Positive associations were observed between AAA detection and male sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05-5.15; P < 0.001), older age (adjusted OR: 1.029; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; P < 0.001), and the presence of ischemic heart disease (adjusted OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.04-3.03; P = 0.033) and hypertension (adjusted OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.38-3.37; P = 001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TTE detected AAA with comparable efficacy as AUS in propensity-matched groups who underwent scheduled TTE and AUS.
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Takao
authors: T
authors: Kato
authors: Division of Clinical Laboratory, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Seiko
authors: S
authors: Ishida
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Shoichi
authors: S
authors: Miyamoto
authors: Division of Clinical Laboratory, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Tamae
authors: T
authors: Iura
authors: Division of Clinical Laboratory, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Yoko
authors: Y
authors: Ban
authors: Division of Clinical Laboratory, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Fujikawa
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Eisaku
authors: E
authors: Nakane
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Izumi
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Haruna
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Ueyama
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Ryuji
authors: R
authors: Nohara
authors: Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Moriaki
authors: M
authors: Inoko
keywords: abdominal aortic aneurysms; echocardiography; transthoracic echocardiography