SCREENING OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM: COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is a life-threatening complication.
• Early detection via ultrasound screening can enable timely surgical intervention.
• Portugal currently lacks a national AAA screening program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of AAA screening on mortality, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.
• To assess the applicability of AAA screening programs in Portugal.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was conducted on AAA screening.
• The review focused on studies concerning screening effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses.

Main Results:

• Screening effectively reduces aneurysm-related mortality in men aged 65 and older.
• Overall mortality reduction was not observed. Screening programs demonstrate cost-effectiveness in at-risk populations.
• Evidence suggests potential health benefits and cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-based screening.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound screening for AAA in men aged 65+ appears beneficial and cost-effective.
• Generalizability of findings to the Portuguese population remains uncertain due to study locations.
• Further research is needed to confirm applicability and optimize screening strategies for Portugal.