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Published on: September 19, 2018
Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm: is opportunistic detection a realistic alternative?
P V Tisi1, A D McLain, T A Jeddy
1Department of Vascular Surgery, St. Richard's Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.
Summary
Opportunistic screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is not effective alone. Formal screening programs are superior for detecting AAA, though opportunistic methods may offer some community benefit.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Public Health
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a significant health concern.
- Current detection methods include formal screening programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential for detecting abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) during investigations for other conditions.
- To assess the feasibility of opportunistic AAA detection versus formal screening.
Main Methods:
- Prospective review of prior investigations in individuals attending AAA screening.
- Analysis of data from 276 men aged 65-80 in a Chichester AAA screening program.
- Inquiry into recent general practitioner consultations and radiological investigations.
Main Results:
- 94.6% of subjects consulted a GP within 5 years; 22 (8.0%) had imaging with AAA detection potential.
- Opportunistic AAA detection rate was 0.4% (1 AAA) vs. 12.0% (33 AAA) in the formal screening program.
- Imaging failed to detect 5 of 6 aneurysms in the opportunistic group.
Conclusions:
- Opportunistic screening for AAA is not a viable substitute for formal screening programs.
- Opportunistic detection may contribute to improved community-level AAA detection rates.
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