Prevalence of dilated mid-ascending aorta in individuals 15 years and older: In search of optimal diagnostic criteria and their effect on the burden of disease.

Background: Controversy regarding the definition of the upper limit of normal (ULN) for dilated mid-ascending aorta (mAA) stems from variation in criteria, based on several small-sized studies with small datasets of normal subjects (DONS). The present study was carried out to demonstrate this variation in the prevalence of mAA dilation and to identify the optimal definition by creating the largest DONS.

Methods: Echocardiographic studies of patients ≥ 15 years of age performed at a large tertiary care center over 4 years ( = 49,330) were retrospectively evaluated.

Refining the upper limit of normal for the ascending aorta: In search of optimal criteria -- a large database study of normal individuals.

Objectives: The cutoff for dilated mid-ascending aorta (mAA) is controversial and has several definitions. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of mAA dilation based on published definitions and to identify the optimal cutoff.

Methods: Echocardiographic studies of patients >15 years of age performed at a large tertiary care center over 4 years, = 49,330, were retrospectively evaluated.