Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between abdominal aortic atherosclerotic lumen distortion and atherosclerosis risk in vascular branches in older  dults by dual-source computed tomography (CT).

Methods: CT angiography data of 275 patients with abdominal aortic atherosclerosis in our hospital were collected to record vascular distortion and compare the involvement of the celiac trunk branch, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), bilateral renal artery (RA), and inferior mesenteric artery. Study participants were grouped as follows: group A (age, 65–74 years; n = 68), group B (age, 75-85 years old; n = 123), and group C (age, > 85 years old; n = 84).

Results: The rate of arterial distortion in senile abdominal aortic atherosclerosis was 44.4% (122 cases), which was positively correlated with age (r = 0.759, p < 0.05). SMA and RA involvement were highest in all age groups (61.5% and 77.0%, respectively), and distortion did not occur in 153 cases (55.6%). There was no significant correlation between the incidence of branch lesions and patient age (r = 0.354, p < 0.05), although age was associated with the degree of the lesion.

Conclusions: The risk of secondary atherosclerosis in the vascular branches of older adult patients with abdominal aortic atherosclerosis increases with age. Concomitant morphological changes secondary to vascular lumen distortion greatly increase the incidence of SMA and RA involvement.