Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a reference luminal diameter (LD) of the abdominal aorta (AA) in Abuja, Nigeria.
 Methods: The LD of the AA of 422 male and female healthy subjects was measured sonographically using standard protocol. The relationship between age, body mass index (BMI), gender, and the LD of the AA was determined in the subjects. Statistical analysis was performed by the Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient at p < 0.05 level of significance.
 Results: The values of the LD of the AA in the healthy subjects were 15.16 ± 0.55 mm in males and 15.15 ± 0.55 mm in females. The 5th and 95th percentile normal reference limits of the AA were 14.20–16.10 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences in the LD measurements in male and female subjects. Age correlated strongly positively with LD (ɼ=0.90) of the AA in both genders. BMI showed weak positive correlation with LD (ɼ=0.136) of the AA in female healthy subjects only.
 Conclusion: The reference LD of the AA in the study population was 15.16 ± 0.55 mm in males and 15.15 ± 0.55 mm in females. The LD of the AA increased proportionately with age.
Highlights
The abdominal aorta (AA) is the largest artery in the body with a normal diameter of 20 mm and supplies major abdominal organs including the liver, spleen, gonads, and diaphragm, with oxygenated blood [1]
Progressing childhood atherosclerosis together with the continuous flow of blood through the AA overtime imposes stress on the walls of the AA and is accompanied by decrease in vessel compliance as well as an increase in aortic wall stiffness [2]. These are caused by changes in the structure of the artery due to increase in the collagen content and formation of plaques, atheroma, intimal atherosclerosis, and thrombus [3], which influence the luminal diameter (LD), leading to abdominal aortic aneurism
Consenting healthy volunteer subjects without any clinically and/or laboratory confirmed cardiovascular risk factors were included in the study while subjects with a history of cardiovascular diseases and those with a history of aneurysms were excluded from the study
Summary
The abdominal aorta (AA) is the largest artery in the body with a normal diameter of 20 mm and supplies major abdominal organs including the liver, spleen, gonads, and diaphragm, with oxygenated blood [1]. Progressing childhood atherosclerosis together with the continuous flow of blood through the AA overtime imposes stress on the walls of the AA and is accompanied by decrease in vessel compliance as well as an increase in aortic wall stiffness [2]. These are caused by changes in the structure of the artery due to increase in the collagen content and formation of plaques, atheroma, intimal atherosclerosis, and thrombus [3], which influence the luminal diameter (LD), leading to abdominal aortic aneurism. The increase in prevalence and mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases make it a major public health issue in the world [1] causing about 12 million deaths globally and responsible for five out of eight hospital admissions in Nigeria [7,8]
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