Thoracic aortic aneurysm epidemiology and demographics

Editor-in-Chief: Amjad AlMahameed, MD, MPH, RPVI, FACP. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Boston, USA

Epidemiology and Demographics
TAAs are relatively uncommon with an estimated incidence between 6 and 10 new aneurysms per 100,000 person-years. TAAs are usually diagnosed after the sixth decade of life and they typically expand slowly (approximately 0.1-0.2 cm/year). The risk of rupture is closely related to aneurysm size (3% for TAAs <4 cm and 7% for >6 cm). These bioepidemiological characteristics support the current stand that screening for TAA is not recommended in the general population. Certain population substrates, such as those with history of Marfan's syndrome, Turner's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos type IV syndrome, familial thoracic aortic disease syndromes, and patients with bicuspid aortic valve should have imaging study to screen for TAAs.