Deck 8: Epidemiology of Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

Question 1

Aortic aneurysm is defined as dilatation or outpouching of the aorta with a diameter that is 50% greater than normal.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Medial necrosis refers to degeneration and fragmentation of elastic fibers and loss of smooth muscle cells in the tunica media of the arterial wall.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Medial necrosis characterizes thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Aneurysms of the descending aortic usually involve atherosclerotic damage to both the tunica intima and tunica media.

Question 5

Rupture and dissection of an aortic aneurysm is usually preceded by symptoms.

Question 6

The incidence and prevalence of aortic aneurysms has declined over the past several decades.

Question 7

The annual mortality from aortic aneurysms has increased over the past several decades.

Question 8

Pre-existing cardiovascular conditions such as ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension and peripheral artery disease increase the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Question 9

The presence of a bicuspid aortic valve increases the risk for developing an aneurysm of the ascending aorta.

Question 10

Prior to advent of antibiotics, syphilis was a major risk factor for development of aortic aneurysm.

Question 11

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by all of the following symptoms except:

A) claudication.
B) ankle-brachial Index less than 0.90.
C) prior CVD.
D) onset before age 50 Years.

Question 12

What is the approximate number of people living with PAD in the world population?

A) 50 million
B) 100 million
C) 200 million
D) 300 million

Question 13

What is the trend in annual prevalence of PAD since 2000?

A) Increasing
B) Decreasing
C) No change
D) Unstable

Question 14

What ethnic group in the United States has the highest prevalence of PAD?

A) African American women
B) Caucasian American women
C) African American men
D) Caucasian American men

Question 15

What is the trend in the annual number of deaths from aortic aneurysms since 1990?

A) Increased
B) Decreased
C) No change
D) Unstable

Question 16

What is the trend of annual age-specific mortality rates of aortic aneurysms since 1990?

A) Increased
B) Decreased
C) No change
D) Unstable

Question 17

What is the pattern of inheritance of Marfan syndrome?

A) Autosomal recessive
B) Autosomal dominant
C) X-linked
D) Polygenic

Question 18

What is the dominant risk factor for aneurysms of the descending and abdominal aorta?

A) Hypertension
B) Diabetes
C) Atrial fibrillation
D) Atherosclerosis

Question 19

Discuss the classification of aortic aneurysms.

Question 20

Discuss trends in the mortality from aortic aneurysms.

Question 21

Discuss causes of aneurysms of the descending and abdominal aorta.

Question 22

Discuss causes of aneurysms of the ascending aorta.

Question 23

Discuss Connective Tissue Disorders and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms.

Question 24

Discuss Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and aortic aneurysms.

Question 25

Discuss the mortality from PAD.

Question 26

Discuss the primary prevention of aortic aneurysms.