The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Successfully Measures Quality of Care for Elective Procedures for Asymptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease

We aimed to evaluate the frequency, clinical profiles and outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD) in a small country with high cardiovascular burden. Methods. Data were collected for all adult patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography scans at Hamad General Hospital in Qatar between 2004 and 2008. Results. Out of 13,115 screened patients for various reasons, 61 patients (0.5%) had abdominal aneurysms. The majority of AAA patients were male (82%) with a mean age of 67 ± 12 years. The incidence of AAA substantially increased with age reaching up to 5% in patients >80 yrs. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AAA followed by smoking, dyslipidemia, renal impairment, and diabetes mellitus. CAD and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were observed in 36% and 13% of AAA patients, respectively. There were no significant correlations between CAD or PAD and site and size of AAA. Conclusion. This is the largest study in our region that describes the epidemiology of AAA with concomitant CAD. As the mortality rate is quite high in this high risk population, routine screening for AAA in CAD patients and vice versa needs further studies for proper risk stratification.

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Meta-analysis of prospective trials determining the short- and mid-term effect of elective open and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms on quality of life

British Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1002/bjs.9018 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 448-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

P. A. Coughlin ◽

D. Jackson ◽

A. D. White ◽

M. A. Bailey ◽

C. Farrow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Endovascular Repair ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Term Effect ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Prospective Trials

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Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in the 1990s: Resource Utilization, Long-Term Survival, and Quality of Life After Repair

Vascular Surgery ◽

10.1177/153857449803200503 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 415-424 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mark K. Eskandari ◽

Stephen A. Bowles ◽

Marshall W. Webster ◽

David L. Steed ◽

Michel S. Makaroun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Resource Utilization ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Term Survival ◽

Long Term Survival ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

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Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms

Revista do Hospital das Clínicas ◽

10.1590/s0041-87812003000200002 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 63-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Telmo Pedro Bonamigo ◽

Iara Siqueira

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Peripheral Artery ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Artery Disease ◽

Abdominal Aorta Diameter ◽

Aorta Diameter ◽

Group 1

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms may be useful to decrease mortality related to rupture. We conducted a study to assess the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in southern Brazil and to define risk factors associated with high prevalence of this disorder. The screening was conducted using abdominal ultrasound. Three groups were studied: Group 1 - cardiology clinic patients; Group 2 - individuals with severe ischemic disease and previous coronary surgery, or important lesions on cardiac catheterism; Group 3 - individuals without cardiac disease selected from the general population. All individuals were male and older than 54 years of age. The ultrasonographic diagnosis of aneurysm was based on an anteroposterior abdominal aorta diameter of 3 cm, or on an abdominal aorta diameter 0.5 cm greater than that of the supra-renal aorta. RESULTS: A total of 2.281 people were screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms in all groups: Group 1 - 768 individuals, Group 2 - 501 individuals, and Group 3 - 1012 individuals. The prevalence of aneurysms was 4.3%, 6.8% and 1.7%, respectively. Age and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with increased prevalence of aneurysms, as was the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease. DISCUSSION: We concluded that screening may be an important tool to prevent the mortality associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms surgery. Additionally, the cost of screening can be decreased if only individuals presenting significant risk factors, such as coronary and peripheral artery disease, smokers and relatives of aneurysm patients, are examined.

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IMPROVEd quality of life and lower cost with an endovascular strategy for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms - impact on daily practice: Figure 1

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehv221 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (31) ◽

pp. 2031-2033 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rachel E. Clough ◽

Christoph A. Nienaber

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lower Cost ◽

Daily Practice ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

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Association of impaired arterial wall properties with the presence of coronary artery disease in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

Journal of Clinical Hypertension ◽

10.1111/jch.13825 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 187-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pinelopi Rafouli‐Stergiou ◽

Ignatios Ikonomidis ◽

Niki Katsiki ◽

Nikolaos P. E. Kadoglou ◽

Stefanos Vlachos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Arterial Wall ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Wall Properties ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Artery Disease

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Comorbidities Associated with Large Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Aorta ◽

10.1055/s-0039-1692456 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 07 (04) ◽

pp. 108-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Verena Müller ◽

Milena Miszczuk ◽

Christian E. Althoff ◽

Andrea Stroux ◽

Andreas Greiner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm ◽

Aortic Aneurysm ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Artery Disease

Background Abdominal aortic aneurysm has become increasingly important owing to demographic changes. Some other diseases, for example, cholecystolithiasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hernias, seem to co-occur with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to identify new comorbidities associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods We compared 100 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms and 100 control patients. Their preoperative computed tomographic scans were examined by two investigators independently, for the presence of hernias, diverticulosis, and cholecystolithiasis. Medical records were also reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The aneurysm group had a higher frequency of diverticulosis (p = 0.008). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of hernia (p = 0.073) or cholecystolithiasis (p = 1.00). Aneurysm patients had a significantly higher American Society of Anesthesiology score (2.84 vs. 2.63; p = 0.015) and were more likely to have coronary artery disease (p < 0.001), congestive heart failure (p < 0.001), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p < 0.001). Aneurysm patients were more likely to be former (p = 0.034) or current (p = 0.006) smokers and had a significantly higher number of pack years (p < 0.001). Aneurysm patients also had a significantly poorer lung function. In multivariate analysis, the following factors were associated with aneurysms: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio, OR = 12.24; p = 0.002), current smoking (OR = 4.14; p = 0.002), and coronary artery disease (OR = 2.60; p = 0.020). Conclusions Our comprehensive analysis identified several comorbidities associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms. These results could help to recognize aneurysms earlier by targeting individuals with these comorbidities for screening.

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