Differences in aortic dimensions between cases and controls
The mean AB length was 76.9 ± 15.7 mm (range 36.8 to 115.0 mm) for
patients with ATAAD and was 62.0 ± 10.7 mm (range 34.0 to 87.8 mm) for
control patients, which was a significant difference (t =-6.4,P <0.001; Figure 5A). ATAAD patients had greater
diameter at STJ (median: 41.6 vs 30.2 mm, z =7.5,P <0.001; Figure 5B) and diameter at PAB (median: 42.3
vs 32.2 mm, z =6.8, P <0.001; Figure 5C) compared
with controls. There was no difference between ATAAD and control
patients in median tortuosity (1.13 vs 1.11, z =1.4,P =0.170; Table 2). Multivariable analyses found that aortic
length (β=0.48, P <0.001), aortic diameter at STJ
(β=0.62, P <0.001), and aortic diameter at PAB (β=0.56,P <0.001) were significantly greater for the ATAAD group
compared with the control group. No difference between cases and
controls was found for tortuosity in the multivariable analysis (β=0.14,P =0.083).
A maximum ascending aortic diameter >5.5 cm (at either the
PAB or STJ) was present in 12 of 67 cases (18%) and 0 of 67 controls
(P <0.001). A maximum ascending aortic diameter
>5.0 cm (at either the PAB or STJ) was present in 22 of 67
cases (33%) and 0 of 67 controls (P <0.001).