HealthYes! Public Relations Group has proactively gathered the following statistics on AAA and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. The information provided is designed to aid medical reporters when completing their due diligence and authoring articles or news stories on HealthYes! and cardiovascular disease in public media. Our hopes are that by building awareness via the media, a more informed and healthy community will result.

Many cases of ruptured aneurysm can be prevented with early diagnosis and medical treatment. (Source: Aneurysm. National Institutes of Health)

In most cases, there are no major symptoms for AAA. Occasionally, patients may feel abdominal, back, or side pain. (Source: What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, or AAA? Vascular Disease Foundation)

Each year, physicians diagnose approximately 200,000 people in the United States with AAA. (Source: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Vascular Web. Society of Vascular Surgeons)

Most aneurysms (3 out of 4) are found by chance when a diagnostic test, such as x ray or ultrasound, is performed for a different reason. (Source: Aneurysm. National Institutes of Health)

Less than half of small (<5.0 cm) AAA's are detected on routine physical examination. Abdominal ultrasound can detect an aneurysm and investigate its size and location (Source: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. USC Center for Vascular Care)

Approximately 30% to 50% of patients with a ruptured AAA die before they ever reach a hospital. Even with surgery, there is 50-70% mortality rate associated with a ruptured AAA. Early detection and timely repair are paramount to AAA management. (Source: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. USC Center for Vascular Care)

About 15,000 Americans die each year from ruptured aortic aneurysms. Ruptured aortic aneurysm is the 10th leading cause of death in men over age 50 in the United States. (Source: Aneuyrsm. National Institutes of Health)

The risk of AAA increases as you get older, and it is more likely to occur in people between the ages of 60 to 80. (Source: Aneuyrsm. National Institutes of Health)

About 1 in 5 AAAs rupture. (Source: Aneuyrsm. National Institutes of Health)

A ruptured aneurysm is an emergency and procedures must take place immediately to save one’s life and avoid serious complications. (Source: What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, or AAA? Vascular Disease Foundation)

Men are 5 to 10 times more likely than women to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)-the most common type of aneurysm. (Source: Aneuyrsm. National Institutes of Health)

AAA can affect anyone, but are most often seen in men ages 40 to 70. Most AAA’s are caused by atherosclerosis. (Source: Aortic aneurysms. Society of Thoracic Surgeons)

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are far more common than thoracic aortic aneurysms, comprising up to 75 percent of aortic aneurysms. (Source: Aortic aneurysms. Society of Thoracic Surgeons)

Risk factors for AAA include age over 60 years, family history, tobacco use, history of heart or vascular disease, and high blood pressure. Smokers are 8 times more likely to develop AAA. (Source: What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, or AAA? Vascular Disease Foundation)

It is estimated that 1.5 million people in the United States have an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. (Source: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Foundation for Accelerated Vascular Research)

Experts recommend that men who are 65 to 75 years old and have ever smoked (at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime) should be checked for abdominal aortic aneurysms. (Source: Aneuyrsm. National Institutes of Health)

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