The diameter of the common femoral artery in healthy human: Influence of sex, age, and body size

Purpose: To determine the relevance of dilatations of the common femoral ar tery (CPA), knowledge of the normal CPA diameter is essential. The diameter of the CPA in healthy male and female subjects of different ages was inves tigated. Methods: The diameter of the CPA was measured in 122 healthy volunteers (59 male, 63 female; 8 to 81 years of age) with echo-tracking B-mode ultrasoun d scan. The influence of age, sex, height, weight, body surface area (BSA), and systolic blood pressure was analyzed by means of a multiple regression model. Results: The CPA increased steadily in diameter throughout life. From 25 ye ars onwards, the diameter was larger in men than in women. Significant corr elations were found between the CPA diameter and weight (r = 0.58 and r = 0 .57 in male and female subjects, respectively; P < .0001), height (r = 0.49 and r = 0.54 in male and female subjects, respectively; P < .0001), and BS A (r = 0.60 and r = 0.62 in male and female subjects, respectively; P < .00 01). Age and BSA were used to create a model for prediction of the CPA diam eter (r = 0.71 and r = 0.77 in male and female subjects, respectively; P < .0001). Conclusion: The diameter of the CFA increases with age, initially during gr owth but also in adults. This is related to age, body size, and sex-male su bjects have larger arteries than female subjects. It is now possible to pre dict the normal CPA diameter, and nomograms that may be used in the study o f aneurysmal disease are presented.