Trends in Prevalence Rates of Asymptomatic Aortic Aneurysms in Japan Based on Autopsy Series

Abstract

A considerable portion of patients with aortic aneurysms is asymptomatic. In order to know the prevalence rates of asymptomatic aortic aneurysms, the cases of aortic aneurysms found incidentally in an autopsy series from 1960 to 1989 were reviewed. In the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, 1, 469 (971 male and 498 female) cases were found. The overall age-adjusted prevalence rates of asymptomatic aortic aneurysms increased from 2.08 to 2.48 for males, and from 1.26 to 1.85 for females, per 1, 000 autopsy cases, respectively, during the period. Abdominal aortic aneurysms were the most frequent in males but dissecting ones were the leading type in females. The prevalence rates of abdominal and dissecting aortic aneurysms increased in both sexes, and the rate of thoracic aortic aneurysms decreased in females. J Epidemiol, 1995; 5 : 159-163.