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Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Northumberland
1Department of Surgery, Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington, Northumberland, UK.
The British Journal of Surgery
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Community screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in older men is feasible but may overwhelm surgical capacity. A pilot study found high attendance but potential for unmanageable operations with widespread screening.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Public Health Screening
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programs aim to detect aneurysms early.
- Community-based screening offers a decentralized approach to healthcare.
- Assessing the feasibility of such programs is crucial for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a community-based abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening program.
- To determine the prevalence of AAA in men aged 65-79 years within a specific healthcare district.
- To assess the potential impact of screening on local surgical resources.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study conducted in two general practices.
- Invitation of 800 men aged 65-79 years for screening.
- Abdominal aorta ultrasonography used for diagnosis.
Main Results:
- A participation rate of 78.5% (628 men) was achieved.
- Prevalence of AAA (diameter > 29 mm) was 6.7% (42 men).
- Large AAA (diameter > 49 mm) found in 1.6% (10 men), with 1.1% (7 men) receiving aortic grafts.
Conclusions:
- Widespread screening of all men aged 65-79 or 65-74 years could exceed local surgical capacity.
- Targeted annual screening of 65-year-olds with 5-year rescreening up to age 75 is a potential option.
- Even a targeted approach may eventually lead to an unmanageable number of surgical interventions.