Fattahi Nina, Nilsson Olga, Svensjö Sverker, Roy Joy, Linné Anneli, Hultgren Rebecka
Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Södersjukhuset AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
J Med Screen. 2025 Jun;32(2):67-75. doi: 10.1177/09691413241278224. Epub 2024 Sep 9.
ObjectiveThe psychological consequences of being aware of an increased risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysm as a first-degree relative of a person with abdominal aortic aneurysm are hitherto unexplored. This study investigates the awareness of heritability and anxiety in male and female adult offspring of abdominal aortic aneurysm patients compared to controls. Health-related quality of life among participants with aortic pathology was compared to participants with normal aortic diameters.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional point prevalence study based on the participants examined in the Detecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in First Degree Relatives Trial (DAAAD; 752 adult offspring, 756 matched controls), 2020-2022. Questionnaires about health-related quality of life and study-specific questions regarding awareness of heritability were collected prior to the aortic ultrasound.ResultsAttendance rate was higher among individuals with heredity compared to controls (67% vs. 52%, < 0.001). Of 1508 adult offspring examined, 65% reported having a close relative with abdominal aortic aneurysm (6% in controls). Female adult offspring reported higher awareness of heritability than controls (38% vs. 12%, < 0.001), as did males (32% vs. 8%, < 0.001). A slight majority of participants with awareness reported anxiety (54% of female offspring; 51% of male). There were no measured differences in health-related quality of life between the groups when standard health-related quality of life instruments were used.ConclusionThe higher-than-expected proportion of adult offspring with awareness of heritability and anxiety about such risk indicates that we fail to communicate risk to this group appropriately via the current channels of information within the healthcare system. This calls for the development of dedicated strategies for improved communication of abdominal aortic aneurysm risk to patients and their next of kin.
作为腹主动脉瘤患者的一级亲属，知晓患腹主动脉瘤风险增加所带来的心理影响迄今尚未得到探究。本研究调查腹主动脉瘤患者的成年子代（男性和女性）与对照组相比对遗传易感性的认知及焦虑情况。将患有主动脉病变的参与者的健康相关生活质量与主动脉直径正常的参与者进行比较。
这是一项横断面现患率研究，基于2020 - 2022年在“一级亲属腹主动脉瘤检测试验”（DAAAD；752名成年子代，756名匹配对照）中接受检查的参与者。在进行主动脉超声检查之前，收集有关健康相关生活质量的问卷以及关于遗传易感性认知的特定研究问题。
有遗传因素的个体的参与率高于对照组（67%对52%，P<0.001）。在接受检查的1508名成年子代中，65%报告有近亲患有腹主动脉瘤（对照组为6%）。成年女性子代报告的遗传易感性认知高于对照组（38%对12%，P<0.001），成年男性也是如此（32%对8%，P<0.001）。大多数有认知的参与者报告有焦虑情绪（女性子代的54%；男性的51%）。当使用标准的健康相关生活质量工具时，两组之间在健康相关生活质量方面没有测量到差异。
知晓遗传易感性并对这种风险感到焦虑的成年子代比例高于预期，这表明我们未能通过医疗保健系统内当前的信息渠道向该群体恰当地传达风险。这就需要制定专门的策略，以改善向患者及其亲属传达腹主动脉瘤风险的方式。
