ABSTRACT
For multiple reasons, it is a challenge to assess the epidemiology (incidence and prevalence) of aortic aneurysms and their corresponding acute aortic diseases. The methodological challenges include the following:
1. Referral center bias. Tertiary referral centers that specialize in treatment of aortic diseases receive patients from a broad geographic territory. The number of patients treated at such centers does not, therefore, directly reflect the incidence or prevalence of aortic diseases in the hospital environs.
