Growth Rate and Associated Factors in Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Objective. To study the growth rate and factors influencing progression of small infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Design. Observatiotial, longitudinal, prospective study. Patients and methods. We followed patients With AAA < 5 cm in diameter in two groups. Group I (AAA 3-3.9 cm, n=246) underwent annual ultrasound scans. Group 11 (AAA 4-4.9 cm, n = 106) underwent 6-monthly CT scans. Results. We included 352 patients (333 men and 19 women) followed for a mean of 55.2 +/- 37.4 nionths (6.3-199.8). The mean growth rate was significantly greater in group 11 (4,72 +/- 5.93 vs. 2.07 +/- 3.23 mm/4year; p < 0.0001). Group 11 had a greater percentage of patients with rapid aneurysm expansion (> 4 mm/year) (36.8 vs. 13.8%; p < 0.0001). The classical cardiovascular risk factors did not influence the AAA growth rate in group I. Chronic limb ischemia was associated with slower expansion (<= 4 mm/year) (OR 0.47, CI 95% 0.22-0.99; p = 0.045). Diabetic patients in group II had a significantly smaller mean AAA growth rate than non-diabetics (1.69 +/- 3.51 vs. 5.22 +/- 6.11 mm/4year, p = 0.032). Conclusions. The expansion rate of small AAA increases with the AAA size. AAA with a diameter of 3-3.9 cm expand slowly, and they are very unlikely to require surgical repair in 5 years. Many 4-4.9 cm AAA can be expected to reach a surgical size in the first 2 years of follow-up. Chronic limb ischemia and diabetes are associated with reduced aneurysin growth rates.