Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm
(AAA) and abdominal aortic ectasia (AAE) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients
in a multicenter setting to obtain significant data to establish an AAA screening
program in our departments.
Methods Between January and September 2016, 500 patients with suspected or diagnosed CAD
planned for coronary angiography or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) underwent
a sonographic examination of the infrarenal abdominal aorta to diagnose AAA or AAE.
We calculated the prevalence of AAA and AAE in patients diagnosed of CAD and investigated
factors potentially associated with the occurrence of AAA.
Results The overall prevalence in all grades of CAD for AAE was 35.1% and for AAA 5.4%. In
patients with three-vessel CAD, the prevalence of AAE was 34% and of AAA 6.8%. Significant
correlation was found between the three-vessel CAD and AAA (p = 0.039). The logistic regression analysis showed significant correlation between
AAA and age > 65 years (p = 0.05). The multivariate analysis of risk factors and CAD revealed significant correlations
between one-vessel CAD and arterial hypertension (AH) (p = 0.004) and age > 65 years (p = 0.001) as well as between three-vessel CAD and AH (p = 0.01), peripheral artery disease (p = 0.01), and age > 65 years (p = 0.03).
Conclusion Our results confirm, that in comparison to other data, the prevalence of AAA in patients
with CAD is high. Thus, it is recommended to include patients with CAD, especially
elderly patients with three-vessel CAD, in future AAA screening programs.
Keywords
abdominal aortic aneurysm - abdominal aortic aneurysm screening - coronary artery
disease
