Ethnic Differences in Ascending Aorta Dimensions and Dilatation Rates: A Systematic Review.

Ethnic differences may substantially influence the morphological characteristics of the ascending aorta, with potential implications for clinical assessment and management of aortic dilatation. This systematic review evaluated the impact of ethnicity on ascending aorta diameter and dilatation rates, highlighting the need for more tailored, ethnicity-specific care in cardiovascular practice. We identified 11 studies that measured ascending aorta dimensions using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Most investigations focused on Asian, Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic populations. Data extraction revealed notable variability in baseline aortic diameters across ethnic groups. Some studies found no significant differences between Asian and Caucasian participants, whereas others reported consistently larger diameters in Chinese ethnicities compared to Caucasians and smaller diameters in African American groups. One investigation, for instance, showed that Chinese participants had ascending aorta diameters approximately 1.5 mm larger than their Caucasian counterparts. Dilatation rates also diverged: one study observed that non-White race was linked to earlier or more rapid aortic root dilation in younger populations. At the same time, another reported that Vietnamese individuals had nearly twice the annual growth rate of ascending aorta dilatation when compared to other ethnicities. Available data on prevalence varied, with some studies suggesting ascending aorta dilatation ranged from about 1.2% to 7.5% in Caucasians, 0.9% to 6.4% in African Americans, and 0.8% to 5.9% in Asians. These findings potentiate the role of ethnicity in shaping aortic dimensions, possibly through a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle influences. Incorporating ethnic background into risk stratification may improve the accuracy of clinical assessments and help guide personalized management strategies for ascending aorta dilatation. Future research should address heterogeneity in measurement techniques, more consistently defining ethnic groups, and explore long-term outcomes to clarify whether these observed morphological differences translate into variations in morbidity and mortality.