title: Prevalence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Men Aged 65-74 Years in a Metropolitan Area in North-East Spain.
abstract: A declining prevalence of AAA and a shift in the distribution towards the older population have been observed during the last decade in Europe. The aim was to estimate the current screening prevalence of AAA in men aged 65-74 years in a metropolitan area in north-east Spain and to identify associated risk factors.
  
  
  
  A cross sectional prevalence study in men registered in L'Hospitalet Primary Healthcare Services (Barcelona, Spain) was performed. There were 619 randomly selected subjects (expected prevalence of aneurysm, 5%; accuracy of estimation, ±2%; loss to follow up, 30%). Exclusion criteria were life expectancy <1 year, limited quality of life, previous diagnosis of AAA, prior aorto-femoral surgery, and non-Caucasian. The following were measured: internal diameter of the infrarenal abdominal aorta using ultrasound, cardiovascular risk factors, personal (heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease) and family history (AAA), physical examination, and blood tests. We estimated the prevalence and 95% confidence interval of AAA, and used logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for AAA.
  
  
  
  Among the 651 individuals included in the analysis the prevalence of aneurysm was 2.30% (95% CI, 1.30-3.77%). In the regression analysis, AAA was associated with smoking (0-10, 11-20, or >20 cigarettes/day), diagnosis of myocardial infarction, and being taller than the median (165 cm).
  
  
  
  The current screening prevalence of AAA among men aged 65-74 years in a metropolitan area in north-east Spain is similar to that in northern Europe. Smoking, myocardial infarction, and height were associated with the presence of AAA.
authors.affiliation: Delta Llobregat Primary Care Services, DAP Costa Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; MACAP Costa de Ponent Research Group, Research Unit in Primary Care, Primary Care Services Costa Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), Barcelona, Spain; MACAP Costa de Ponent Research Group, Jordi Gol Institute for Primary Care Research (IDIAP Jordi Gol), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: bsalvador@ambitcp.catsalut.net.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salvador-González
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Department, Consorci Sanitari Integral, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín-Baranera
authors.affiliation: SDPI Pura Fernández, DAP Costa Ponent, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: Á
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Borque-Ortega
authors.affiliation: SDPI Pura Fernández, DAP Costa Ponent, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sáez-Sáez
authors.affiliation: SDPI Pura Fernández, DAP Costa Ponent, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Albert-Delas Vigo
authors.affiliation: SDPI Pura Fernández, DAP Costa Ponent, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carreño-García
authors.affiliation: Delta Llobregat Primary Care Services, DAP Costa Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarín-Masriera
authors.affiliation: Delta Llobregat Primary Care Services, DAP Costa Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Badia-Millán
authors.affiliation: Delta Llobregat Primary Care Services, DAP Costa Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gil
authors.affiliation: Delta Llobregat Primary Care Services, DAP Costa Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torrabadella-Fàbrega
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001827:Body Height; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Prevalence; Risk factors; Tobacco; Ultrasonography