Normal diameters of abdominal aorta and common iliac artery in middle-aged and elderly Chinese Han people based on CTA

To investigate the normal diameter of the abdominal aorta and common iliac arteries of the middle-aged and elderly people in China and the relationship of the diameters with age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and body surface area (BSA). This retrospective study enrolled 625 patients including 380 males and 245 females aged 60.00 years (interquartile range 13.00 years). All clinical data and the diameters of the abdominal aorta and common iliac arteries were analyzed. The diameter of the abdominal aorta was 21.49 ± 2.49 mm at the proximal, 16.94 (interquartile range 2.39) mm at the middle, and 15.65 (interquartile range 2.90) mm at the distal segment. The diameter of the common iliac artery was 10.76 (interquartile range 1.99) mm at the right proximal, 10.41 (interquartile range 2.05) mm at the left proximal, 10.74 (interquartile range 2.25) mm at the right distal, and 10.67 (interquartile range 2.22) mm at the left distal segment. The height, weight, BSA, BMI, diameters of the proximal, middle and distal abdominal aorta as well as the proximal and distal left and right common iliac arteries were significantly higher in males than those in females (P < .001). Height, weight, BSA, and BMI were significantly (P < .001) positively correlated with the diameter of the abdominal aorta and common iliac artery at the proximal, middle, and distal segments. The middle and distal diameters of the abdominal aorta were significantly higher in males than those in females (P < .05). The diameter of the abdominal aorta at the proximal, middle, and distal segment as well as the diameter of the left and right common iliac artery at the distal segment were significantly (P < .05) increased with age. The normal values of the diameter of the abdominal aorta and common iliac arteries are suggested for the middle-aged and elderly Chinese people for clinical reference. The diameters are gender related and significantly positively correlated with BSA, height, weight, and BMI, which is beneficial for the diagnosis and treatment planning of relevant vascular diseases.