An often overlooked danger of smoking is an increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). There are particular risks for women. This study notes that
- AAA is commoner in men but more likely to be fatal in women
- Most research into AAA until now has been done in men
- Age and smoking are the strongest risk factors for AAA in women
- Women with diabetes are less likely to have AAA
The implication is that if we see an
elderly woman who smokes and has a family history of AAA, we should probably arrange screening.
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Source: BMJ 2008;337:a1724
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