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The mystery of abdominal aortic aneurysm: Why is it so common in older men?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common cardiovascular disease, especially in older men. According to statistics, about 2-8% of men over the age of 65 are affected by abdominal aortic aneurysm, and the incidence rate in men is five times that of women. This statistic has attracted the attention of the medical community. Why are older men particularly susceptible to this disease?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm refers to a local enlargement of the abdominal aorta, with a diameter exceeding 3 cm, or more than 50% larger than the normal size. In most cases, an abdominal aortic aneurysm has no obvious symptoms, but when it ruptures, it may cause severe abdominal or back pain and even be life-threatening.
The causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm are still not fully understood, but several risk factors are known to increase its incidence. The most notable of these risk factors are smoking and genetic history. According to research, more than 90% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm have smoked. In addition, problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and vascular disease also increase the number of high-risk groups.
Further analysis found that the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in older men may be related to the following factors:
Genetic factors
The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm is extremely high among male relatives, and the crux lies in the influence of genetics. Approximately 20-30% of male relatives are affected by the disease, showing that the condition is highly heritable. This phenomenon has prompted the medical community to conduct more in-depth research into the mechanism of genetic influences on disease.
Lifestyle
In addition to heredity, lifestyle habits are also important factors affecting the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Long-term smoking and excessive drinking can cause damage to the arteries and promote the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Since older men generally have a three times higher risk of smoking and drinking alcohol, this may explain why this group is particularly vulnerable to the disease.
Health status
High blood pressure and arteriosclerosis are also important risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm. These health problems become more common as we age, putting more pressure on and damaging arteries, putting older men at higher risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
According to statistics, about 85% of abdominal aortic aneurysms occur below the kidney, and if the diameter exceeds 5.5 cm, surgical repair is usually necessary. However, today’s medical technology allows most patients to be screened at an early stage, even when they are asymptomatic, to reduce the risk of the disease.
Screening and prevention
In the United States, men aged 65 to 75 with a history of smoking are recommended to undergo abdominal ultrasound screening, which can help diagnose the disease early. According to research from the UK and Sweden, this policy can effectively reduce patients’ risk of death. Regular screening of older men to detect lesions early has been considered the best means of preventing crises.
Possibility of surgery
If the diameter of the abdominal aortic aneurysm reaches more than 5.5 cm, surgical repair is recommended. There are usually two options for surgery, open surgery and endovascular repair (EVAR). Studies have shown that there is no significant difference in long-term outcomes, but EVAR is associated with a lower risk of death and shorter hospital stay than open surgery.
Conclusion
Research and practice have shown that older men are particularly susceptible to abdominal aortic aneurysms due to the combined effects of multiple risk factors. In the process of understanding this disease, in addition to needing more scientific data, we should also pay attention to early screening and health education. So can we effectively reduce the incidence of this disease in the future?
