Aortic aneurysm is a cardiovascular condition with a serious risk of mortality and the dismal prognosis of any type of major cardiovascular disease. The present study found that tissues from aortic aneurysm patients and hypoxic aortic smooth muscle cells showed aberrant high expression of the cyclic RNA hsa‑circ‑000595, as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction array screening. Knockdown of hsa‑circ‑000595 resulted in a decreased apoptotic rate of human aortic smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, it was determined that miR‑19a is a target of hsa‑circ‑000595. The results of the present study laid an epigenetic foundation for exploring the underlying mechanisms of the development of aortic aneurysm.