Mortality from aortic aneurysms in Australia, 1968 to 1997

Objectives: Describe trends in mortality for aortic aneurysms in Australia for the period 1968 to 1997. Design: Descriptive study of time trends in mortality. Main outcome measure: Age-sexstandardised mortality rates with statistical analysis of trends using negative-binomial regression. Results: While overall mortality rates for aortic aneurysms remained relati vely constant for the period 1968 to 1992 in Australia, there has been a sm all but significant reduction in the rate from then until the end of the se ries in 1997. When different types of aneurysms are considered, there have been increases in the rates associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracic aortic aneurysms, while those for dissecting aortic aneurysms have declined. Most significantly, mortality rates for unspecified aortic aneur ysms have declined. Conclusion: Aortic aneurysm mortality has declined in Australia in recent y ears. The reasons for this are unclear. While there have been increases ass ociated with abdominal aortic aneurysm mortality, this is likely to be a re sult of more precise coding of death rather than any real increase in morta lity.