Key result
Opportunistic screening during routine abdominal ultrasound finds a 5% AAA prevalence in men aged 65-74.
Why the study?
The current debate on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) includes uncertainty about the prevalence and feasibility of opportunistic screening during abdominal ultrasonography in at-risk men.
Does opportunistic screening during routine abdominal ultrasonography identify a significant prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in men aged 65-74?
Cross-Sectional (n=317)
No
Does opportunistic screening during routine abdominal ultrasonography identify a significant prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in men aged 65-74?
Opportunistic screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm during routine abdominal ultrasound in older men yields a 5% prevalence, comparable to population screening programs, though clinician follow-up requires improvement.
Supports integration of AAA screening into routine abdominal ultrasonography for older men; leaves open questions on long-term outcomes and optimal follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: To contribute to the current debate on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). SETTING: Radiology department of the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. METHODS: The prevalence of AAA in 317 clinically referred male patients aged 65-74 undergoing abdominal ultrasonography with no clinical suspicion of an AAA was investigated over a period of one year. RESULTS: Over the year 15/317 (5%) patients were found to have an aneurysm (defined as aortic diameter (> or = 30 mm), with eight (3%) patients having an aortic diameter of > or = 40 mm. Six months later appropriate management for the AAA had been started for only four patients. A knowledge assessment questionnaire sent to 245 hospital clinicians and general practitioners showed that 17 (12%) of the 139 respondents would initiate no review of patients found to have an aneurysm of 30-39 mm and two would take no action with aneurysms of 40-49 mm. Thirty two (23%) respondents would seek advice on management for all categories of aneurysm, 14% from the radiologist. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunistic screening for AAA in men undergoing clinically indicated abdominal ultrasonography is easy, productive, without discernible cost, and discloses a prevalence of AAA comparable with that of population screening programmes. Routine opportunistic measurement of aortic diameter during abdominal ultrasonography in the at risk group would allow 12-15% of men aged 65-74 to be screened for AAA within five years without the need for any additional resources.
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Derbyshire et al. (1994) conducted a cross-sectional in Abdominal aortic aneurysm (n=317). Opportunistic screening during abdominal ultrasonography was evaluated on Prevalence of AAA (aortic diameter ≥ 30 mm). Opportunistic screening during routine abdominal ultrasonography in men aged 65-74 identified a 5% prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms ≥30 mm.
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