Characteristics of controls and patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA)†
| Controls (n=36) | TAA patients (n=31) | ||
| Aortic diameter (cm)‡ | 3.4±0.6 | 5.6±0.8 | *** |
| EARD§ | 3.6±0.2 | 3.6±0.2 | ns |
| Men / Women | 75 % / 25% | 77 % / 23% | ns |
| Age, y | 67.4±9.1 | 62.8±11.6 | ns |
| Weight, kg | 84.0±16.0 | 88.3±18.1 | ns |
| Height, cm | 175±7 | 179±9 | ns |
| Cardiovascular risk factors | |||
| Diabetes type 1/type 2 | 6 % / 22% | 0 % / 6% | ns |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 31% | 13% | ns |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 136±18 | 135±12 | ns |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 76±10 | 75±12 | ns |
| Medical history | |||
| Heart failure | 14% | 13% | ns |
| Aortic stenosis | 33% | 39% | ns |
| Coronary artery disease | 81% | 10% | *** |
| Atherosclerosis of carotid arteries | 11% | 3% | ns |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 8% | 0% | ns |
| Atrial fibrillation | 6% | 16% | ns |
| Kidney disease (Creatinine >100) | 14% | 6% | ns |
| Clinical chemistry (preoperative) | |||
| Haemoglobin (g/100 mL) | 13.6±1.7 | 14.1±2.7 | ns |
| Thrombocytes (×10⁹/L) | 240±49 | 243±73 | ns |
| Leucocytes (×10⁹/L) | 7.4±2.2 | 7.2±1.9 | ns |
| C reactive protein (mg/L) | 6.93±10.6 | 3.5±3.9 | ns |
| Medication (preoperative) | |||
| ACE inhibitors | 17% | 26% | ns |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers | 25% | 29% | ns |
| Beta-blockers | 67% | 39% | * |
| Statins | 72% | 23% | *** |
| Aspirin | 83% | 29% | *** |
*p<0.05 versus non-aneurysmal aorta, ***p<0.0001 versus non-aneurysmal aorta.
†Data are mean±SD or % of total.
‡Aortic diameters were not available for 10/36 control patients.
§Estimated aortic root dimension (EARD) based on height, formula adapted from Devereux etal: 1.519+(age [yrs]*0.010)+(ht [cm]*0.010)−(sex [1=M, 2=F]*0.247) SEE = EARD.39