AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN THE ABDOMINAL AORTIC DIAMETER

As yet no clear criteria are available for differentiation of normal f rom abnormal abdominal aortic diameter in relation to the development of aortic aneurysm. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the age -related changes in the abdominal aortic diameter. A total of 194 indi viduals (97 men and 97 women) aged twenty years or more with no abnorm alities in the abdominal aorta on physical examination were measured b y B-mode two-dimensional ultrasonography for the maximum anteroposteri or diameter of the abdominal aorta. Results were as follows: 1. A mult iple regression analysis demonstrated that the age, height, and body w eight were factors influencing the aortic diameter. The most significa nt factor among them was the age (the partial correlation coefficient was +0.811, P<0.01), and the next was the height (the partial correlat ion coefficient was +0.453, P<0.01). 2. The relationship between the d iameter and the height was evaluated by stratification of the subjects at ten-year intervals. The correlation coefficients showed significan t positive correlations observed in all age groups (P<0.001). 3. The r elationship between the diameter and the age was studied according to the height by dividing the subjects into five height groups. The corre lation coefficients showed significant positive correlations observed in all height groups (P<0.001).