Transthoracic Echocardiographic Assessment of Thoracic Aorta: Correlation with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Abstract

Background

Thoracic aorta dimensions have been poorly correlated with cardiovascular risk factors such as systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives

To correlate the thoracic aorta diameter assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with SAH, DM, dyslipidemia, CAD, smoking, age, gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) and continuous use of drugs with cardiovascular protective action.

Methods

Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study. The study included 203 individuals (62.1 ± 15.3 years of age; 57.1% female) who underwent TTE with thoracic aorta evaluation at 6 sites: (1) aortic valve annulus; (2) sinus of Valsalva; (3) sinotubular junction; (4) ascending proximal aorta; (5) aortic arch and (6) descending aorta.

Results

Age (p < 0.05), male gender (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.001), height (p < 0.05), and BSA (p < 0.001) were associated with greater thoracic aorta diameters at all sites evaluated. Multivariate analysis identified that age, male gender and BSA, together, explain the variation of aortic annulus diameters in 17.3%, in the sinus of Valsalva in 30.7%, in the sinotubular junction in 17.7%, in the proximal ascending aorta in 21.9%, in the aortic arch in 19.8% and in the descending aorta in 21.4%. There was no association between aortic diameters and the risk factors assessed and continuous use of beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers.

Conclusions

Age, male gender and body surface area correlated positively and significantly with the thoracic aorta diameters. (Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc. 2018;31(3):191-197)