New potential morphologic features of the aorta associated with the occurrence of acute type B aortic dissection

The present study aimed to identify aortic morphological features associated with the occurrence of acute type B aortic dissection (aTBAD) and establish a risk prediction model. Patients in the control group were age- and sex-matched in a 1:1 ratio with the aTBAD group. Morphological parameters of the ascending aorta and aortic arch were measured on the GE Healthcare Advantage Workstation. The length and diameter of the ascending aorta and aortic arch in the aTBAD group increased significantly (all P < 0.001). The tortuosity and angulation of ascending aorta were significantly larger in the aTBAD group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.021, respectively), with no significant difference in the aortic arch (P = 0.757 and P = 0.212, respectively). The height and angle of the ascending aorta increased significantly in the aTBAD group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.039, respectively). The height, width, and angle of the aortic arch were significantly larger in the aTBAD group (all P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that distal left common carotid artery diameter, aortic arch height, and ascending aorta tortuosity were associated with the occurrence of aTBAD. The area under the curve of the risk prediction model and the validation dataset were 0.8415 and 0.8319, respectively. The width, height, and angle of the ascending aorta and aortic arch were associated with the occurrence of aTBAD.