title: Ultrasound Screening of Men with Coronary Artery Disease for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Prospective Dual Center Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  According to the heterogeneous results of previous studies, the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm seems high among men with coronary artery disease. The associating risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm in this population require clarification. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of non-diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysms in men with angiographically verified coronary artery disease and to document the associated co-morbidities and risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether, 407 men with coronary artery disease were screened after invasive coronary angiography in two series at independent centers. Risk factor data were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean age of the study cohort was 70.0 years (standard deviation: 11.0). The prevalence of previously undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysms in the whole screened population of 407 men was 6.1% (n = 25/407). In a multivariate analysis of the whole study population, the only significant risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm were age (odds ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.09) and history of smoking (odds ratio: 3.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.26-7.80). Non-smokers with abdominal aortic aneurysm were significantly older than smokers (mean age: 80.7 (standard deviation: 8.0) vs 68.0 (standard deviation: 11.1), p = 0.003), and age was a significant risk factor only among non-smokers (p = 0.011; p = 0.018 for interaction). Among smokers, the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm was 8.8%, and 72% (n = 18/25) of all diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm patients were smokers. Prevalence of undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysms among patients with coronary artery disease is high, and history of smoking is the most significant risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Effectiveness of selective screening of abdominal aortic aneurysm in male patients with coronary artery disease warrants further studies.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vänni
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakala
authors.affiliation: 2 Heart Center, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turtiainen
authors.affiliation: 2 Heart Center, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Rissanen
authors.affiliation: 3 Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kajander
authors.affiliation: 3 Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilveskoski
authors.affiliation: 3 Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koivumäki
authors.affiliation: 3 Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eskola
authors.affiliation: 3 Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernesniemi
keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; coronary artery disease; coronary heart disease; screening