Reference values of abdominal aorta wall thickness and Doppler indices in a Nigerian population

Abstract

Introduction : There is a paucity of data on the association between Doppler indices, the wall thickness of the abdominal aorta and the development of atherosclerosis in Nigeria. This study aimed to establish reference data of the abdominal aorta wall thickness and their selected Doppler indices in Abuja, Nigeria.

Methodology : This cross-sectional prospective study enlisted volunteer healthy subjects who consented and met the inclusion criteria by convenience sampling. The abdominal Aorta wall thickness (AAWT), as well as selected Doppler indices which are: the resistivity and pulsatility indices (RI & PI) of the abdominal aorta (AA) of four hundred and twelve male and female volunteer healthy subjects, were measured sonographically using standard protocols. Data was analyzed using SPSS v 23 and inferential analysis was done with a level of significance set at 5 %.

Results : The mean ± SD of the AAWT in the volunteer healthy subjects were 1.54 ± 0.33mm and 1.29 ± 0.32mm in male and female healthy volunteers respectively. The mean ± SD of the RI and PI for male volunteer healthy subjects were 0.81 ± 0.06, and 1.09 ± 0.20. Also, the mean + SD of the RI and PI for female healthy volunteers was 0.59 ± 0.06, and 1.10 ± 0.21 respectively.

Conclusion : The reference AAWT, RI and PI in the locality were 1.51 ± 0.33mm, 0.6 ± 0.06 and 1.02 ± 0.19. The RI, PI and AAWT values were higher in males (p >0.005) than in female volunteer healthy subjects.