Sonographic Reference Luminal Diameter of the Abdominal Aorta among Subjects in Nigeria

Background: There are no local baseline reference values to aid accurate ultrasound diagnosis of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and abdominal aortic aneurysm in Abuja, Nigeria. Objective: To develop reference luminal diameter of the abdominal aorta in Abuja, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The luminal diameters of the abdominal aorta (AA) of 422 male and female healthy subjects were measured sonographically using standard protocol. The relationship between age, body mass index (BMI), gender and the luminal diameter of the AA were investigated in the subjects. Statistical analysis was performed by the student T-test and Pearsonâ??s correlation coefficient at 5% level of significance. Results: The values of the luminal diameter of the AA in the healthy subjects were 15.16 ± 0.55 mm in males and 15.15 ± 0.55 mm in females respectively. The 5th and 95th percentile normal reference limits of the AA were 14.20 mm and 16.10 mm respectively. There were no significant differences in the luminal diameter measurements in male and female subjects. Age correlated significantly with luminal diameter (r=0.90) of the AA in both gender. BMI showed weak significant correlation with luminal diameter (r=0.136) of the AA in female healthy subjects only. Conclusion: The reference luminal diameters of the abdominal aorta for male and female healthy subjects have been established in this study. Age is the only significant independent predictor of the luminal diameter of the AA.

Author(s):

Michael S Okpaleke, Valentine CIkamaise, Michael P Ogolodom, Julius Agbo, Awajimijan N Mbaba, Kester Egwuanmku, Oluwafemi O Egbeyemi and Uche N Ejaegwu

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