Familial Risk of AAA in Sweden

Familial Risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Sweden

The aim is to study the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in first degree relatives and the risk to develop AAA in individuals with heredity for AAA compared with the population ( without heredity for AAA).The study i based on national registers in Sweden with high coverage and capacity of linkage between different registers.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Aortic Aneurysm; Aortic Aneurysm Abdominal; Abdominal Aneurysm

Detailed Description

The study is designed as a retrospective, descriptive case-control population based national study. By using national registers, eligible patients diagnosed with AAA during the time period 2010-2024 will be identified, ( treated and untreated). The time period includes when screening was established in Sweden resulting in a large cohort of diagnosed men. Hence, individuals with diagnosed with AAA will be identified through registers at the National health and bord of welfare (Cause of death register, National patient register, Discharge register). Matched controls by sex, age (+/- 1 year), region and income (low,medium, high) will be identified in a ratio of x 4 from Statistic Sweden. These individuals will then be linked to the multigeneration register for identification of their first degree relatoves (FDR). In the finalstep, the FDR will be linked to NBHW register in order to evaluate if the individuals are diagnosed with AAA (rAAA or iAAA) or not. Socioeconomic data and comorbidity will also be collected for FDR, indexperson and matched controls.

Overall aim: To improve the understanding of the hereditary patterns for aortic disease, with specific consideration of regional differences and sex.

Hypothesis: An increased risk to develop any aortic disease will be detected in persons with one or more first-degree-relatives diagnosed with an aortic disease, which will remain although standard adjustments will be considered (age, sex, comorbidity,socioeconomic status).

Aims: 1)To describe the risk for female and male first-degree relatives (FDR) to female and male persons diagnosed with AAA (index persons) to develop a diagnosed AAA,compared to the population. 2) Identification of possible predictive associated risk factors (modifiable/non-modifiable, protective or negative) age, sex, region, other cardiovascular diseases,comorbidities, several FDRs, socioeconomic situation, multilevel aortic disease thatinfluences the hereditary risk.3)To describe the distribution of female and male first-degree relatives (FDR) to female and male persons diagnosed with AAA (index persons) to be diagnosed with a ruptured AAA rather than intact AAA, compared to the population.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 900000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Sweden
  • Stockholm, Sweden
    • Karolinska Institutet

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals with the diagnose AAA or the cause of death AAA in Sweden 2010-2024. The first-degree relatives have been identified through the Swedish multigeneration register and then a register based identifiaction if having AAA or not. All men and female over 45 years old are included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

-

Exclusion Criteria:

• younger than 45 years.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Index cases; Individuals with diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm during 2010- 2024
First-degree relatives to index cases; First- degree relatives to index cases with AAA. Siblings, Parents, Children identified through the Multigeneration register.
Index controls; Control population to index cases based on sex, age, region and income.
First-degree relatives of controls; First-degree relatives of the control population (index controls). Individuals without familial AAA.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Familial risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in first-degree relatives compared with the population.	To describe the risk for female and male first-degree relatives (FDR) to female and male persons diagnosed with AAA (index persons) to develop a diagnosed AAA, compared to the population.	Through study completion, data spanning 1952 to 2024

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heredity as a risk factor for AAA	Hypothesis: Although factors as age, male sex and cardiovascular disease increases the risk for AAA, heredity will remain a risk factor for development of AAA after adjustment. 2) Identification of possible predictive associated risk factors (modifiable/non- modifiable, protective or negative) age, sex, region, other cardiovascular diseases, comorbidities, several FDRs, socioeconomic situation, multilevel aortic disease that influences the hereditary risk.	At time of AAA diagnosis, cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2024.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Karolinska University Hospital
• Collaborators: Karolinska Institutet; Swedish Heart Lung Foundation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Screening; Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Heredity; Familial risk
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Aortic Diseases; Aneurysm; Aortic Aneurysm; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal
• Other Study ID Numbers: Karolinska Institutet (Other Identifier: Karolinska Institutet)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared with external parties due to Swedish legislation on personal data protection (GDPR) and restrictions governing access to national health register data. Data will only be accessible to the research team named in the ethical approval

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No