title: Thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters in a general population: MRI-based reference values and association with age and cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To generate reference values for thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and analyse their association with cardiovascular risk factors in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from participants (n = 1759) of the Study of Health in Pomerania were used for analysis in this study. MRI measurement of thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters was performed. Parameters for calculation of reference values according to age and sex analysis were provided. Multivariable linear regression models were used for determination of aortic diameter-related risk factors, including smoking, blood pressure (BP), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the ascending aorta (β = -0.049, p < 0.001), the aortic arch (β = -0.061, p < 0.001) and the subphrenic aorta (β = -0.018, p = 0.004), the body surface area (BSA)-adjusted diameters were lower in men. Multivariable-adjusted models revealed significant increases in BSA-adjusted diameters with age for all six aortic segments (p < 0.001). Consistent results for all segments were observed for the positive associations of diastolic BP (β = 0.001; 0.004) and HDL (β = 0.035; 0.087) with BSA-adjusted aortic diameters and for an inverse association of systolic BP (β = -0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some BSA-adjusted median aortic diameters are smaller in men than in women. All diameters increase with age, diastolic blood pressure and HDL-C and decrease as systolic BP increases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Median aortic diameter increases with age and diastolic blood pressure. • Median aortic diameter is larger in men than in women. • Some BSA-adjusted median aortic diameters are smaller in men than in women.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany. birger.mensel@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: Birger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mensel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heßelbarth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens-Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.|DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dörr
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.|DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hegenscheid
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-maximilians-University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorbeer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL
keywords: Aortic diameter; Magnetic resonance imaging; Population-based research; Reference values; Risk factors