Table 2.
Comparison of AAA Diameter, AAA Expansion Rate, and hsCRP
| Variable | Before Matching | After Matching | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation | No Rehabilitation | P Value | Rehabilitation | No Rehabilitation | P Value | |
| AAA diameter, mm | ||||||
| Initial | 38±8 | 39±9 | 0.45 | 39±7 | 41±8 | 0.23 |
| After 1 y | 42±9 | 44±9 | 0.12 | 42±8 | 45±2 | 0.04 |
| Latest | 45±10 | 50±9 | <0.01 | 45±10 | 49±7 | 0.04 |
| Expansion rate, mm/y | 2.3±3.7 | 3.8±3.4 | <0.01 | 2.1±3.0 | 4.5±4.0 | <0.01 |
| Follow‐up of AAA diameter, y | 3.1±3.2 | 3.7±2.6 | 0.26 | 2.8±2.3 | 2.5±2.2 | 0.48 |
| hsCRP, mg/dL | ||||||
| Initial | 1.7±1.7 | 0.8±2.6 | 0.06 | 1.8±1.7 | 1.0±2.1 | 0.09 |
| After 1 y | 0.8±1.8 | 1.0±2.2 | 0.54 | 0.6±1.4 | 1.4±2.8 | 0.11 |
| ΔhsCRP, mg/dL per y | −0.9±2.1 | 0.2±3.3 | <0.01 | −1.2±1.7 | 0.4±3.1 | <0.01 |
| Aspect ratio (initial)a | 2.6±0.7 | 2.5±0.6 | 0.20 | 2.6±0.7 | 2.4±0.5 | 0.59 |
Data are given as mean±SD. The AAA diameters at initial and 1 year after registration were compared between the rehabilitation group and the nonrehabilitation group, before and after matching. The latest AAA diameter was the size of AAA at the latest follow‐up computed tomographic (CT) scan. Expansion rate was calculated as the change of AAA diameter per year (mm/y). Follow‐up of AAA diameter was the period from initial CT scan to the latest follow‐up CT scan. AAA indicates abdominal aortic aneurysm; and hsCRP, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein.
The aspect ratio (vertical/horizontal diameter) of AAA was calculated using simple aneurysm model, according to the method previously reported.12