Risk factors Risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysms include Smoking (strongest risk factor) Hypertension Older age (peak incidence at age 70 to 80) Family history (in 15 to 25%) Race (more common among White patients than among patients with African ancestry) Male sex Symptoms and Signs of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Most abdominal aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic.