Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Rupture Risk Index: Explanation and Clinical Context AAA Rupture Risk Index is a tool designed to estimate the probability of rupture in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. It combines key risk factors including maximum aneurysm diameter, annual growth rate, and aneurysm morphology (fusiform or saccular). Diameter remains the strongest predictor, with risk increasing significantly for aneurysms >6 cm. Rapidly growing aneurysms (>0.5 cm/year) and saccular morphology confer additional risk.
This tool aids clinicians in determining the urgency for elective repair, optimizing surveillance intervals, and reducing mortality associated with rupture. The index provides a simple, clinically applicable estimate based on widely validated parameters.
Reference:
Lederle FA, et al. "Immediate repair compared with surveillance of small abdominal aortic aneurysms." JAMA. 2002;287:2968-2972. doi:10.1001/jama.287.22.2968
Hirsch AT, et al. "ACC/AHA 2005 Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease." Circulation. 2006;113:e463-e654.