Aneurysmal Disease
Applied
Type
AdditionConfidence
90%
Created
Mar 20, 2026
Evidence
3 sources
Rationale
The section was updated to include modern clinical considerations such as patient-reported outcomes (PROs), which are increasingly recognized as vital in AAA management. Additionally, the genetic and connective tissue disorder section was strengthened with evidence from a systematic review supporting SVS guidelines on heritable aortopathies (HTAD). Article 3 (Isselbacher 2022) was already present in the text as aha 2022 isselbacher, so it was used to reinforce existing statements without creating a duplicate citation key.
Evidence
Content Changes
removedadded
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), and peripheral aneurysms (popliteal, visceral) develop due to degeneration of vascular wall connective tissue. Smoking is the most consistent modifiable risk factor for AAA, conferring a 5-fold increased risk [@sakalihasan2018]. Recent epidemiological data highlight the continued global burden of aortic disease, with significant variations in prevalence based on age and sex [@martin2025]. Beyond clinical outcomes, there is an increasing recognition of the impact of AAA on patient quality of life, necessitating the integration of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into clinical assessment [@smolderen2026]. Familial clustering suggests genetic predisposition, and current guidelines emphasize the importance of genetic screening in patients with thoracic aortic disease [@aha2022-isselbacher]. Systematic reviews supporting society guidelines reinforce the need for specialized management and surveillance in heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD) to prevent catastrophic events [@firwana2023]. Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are strongly associated with TAA and dissection [@rutherford2018], [@aha2022-isselbacher]. > **See Also:** [[Aneurysmal Diseases|Ch. 4: Aneurysmal Diseases]] for detailed management of AAA, TAA, and peripheral aneurysms.