Commentary

This is an important article regarding the characteristics of ruptured aneurysms in a single community in Japan. The data show that most ruptured aneurysms are less than 10 mm in diameter and that age, smoking, the presence of multiple aneurysms, and aneurysm site are all important factors in aneurysm rupture and outcome. Although the importance of these factors has been debated for years, this community-based study provides another data point for future study.

I would encourage the author to compliment this study with one of unruptured aneurysms in his community. If he could study similarly large numbers in the same detail, he could potentially provide very valuable information regarding the genesis, growth, and rupture of aneurysms. Few other studies have contained large numbers of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in a single community, and to have such numbers from this community in Japan would eliminate many of the limitations of multicenter studies such as the ISUIA studies.