OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical epidemiology features and change trend of aortic dissection (AD).

METHODSRetrospective analysis of consecutive 339 patients with AD over 10 years in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institution. Hospital records and prognosis were compared between two five-year periods.

RESULTS339 cases with AD were hospitalized during the past 10 years. The mean age was 55.7 +/- 11.2. The male/female ratio was 4.75 to 1. Hypertension was present in 71.7% of all patients. Heavy smoking history was elicited in 52.2% of all the patients. Type I dissection were identified in 32.3% of all the cases, type II in 5.1%, and type III in 62.6%. In-hospital mortality of acute type A dissection was 35.3%, acute type B dissection 8.0%. In two five-year periods, the total number of cases increased by 165%, among which type I was the fastest, increased by 270%. Changes of mean age and male/female ratio were not significant. For acute AD, changes of prognosis in one year improved, but did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSThis study provides insight into current regional profiles of AD. The number of hospitalized patients with AD is increasing dramatically. The mean age of the first-attack is much younger and the male ration is much higher than that reported by other regional researchers. Limited by sample size, one year prognosis of acute AD dissection improved, but did not reach statistical significance. These data support the urgent need for further improvement in prevention and treatment of AD.