Abdominal aortic aneurysm in women: Prevalence, risk factors, and implications for screening

Although the medical literature suggests a low prevalence rate of AAA in women in the general population, specific risk factors are associated with the development of AAA, and subgroups of women can be identified that are at a substantially increased risk of aneurysmal disease. In particular, elevated rates of AAA were found among women of advanced age (≥65 years) with a history of smoking or heart disease. These data support the notion that women with such risk factors should be considered for AAA screening.