A 70-year-old man presents with right flank pain that radiates to his groin. He has a long history of heavy smoking and alcohol use and reports passing a kidney stone approximately 20 years prior to this event. His past medical history is also remarkable for diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and obesity. A computed tomography scan reveals a right 7-mm ureteral stone. In addition, coronal imaging was obtained, and is shown. Which of the following is the greatest risk factor for the development of this patient's additional findings on the imaging study shown?
Ans. (b) History of smoking.In this patient, smoking is the greatest risk factor for the development of aortic aneurysm. Studies have shown that it increases the risk approximately eight times that of non smoking adults. Other tobacco use also increases the risk. Other risk factors include the patient's age, atherosclerotic disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and connective tissue diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos or Marfan syndrome.Image source- style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif">
Age
History of smoking
History ofurolithiasis
Metabolic syndrome
Aneurysms