Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in a geographically isolated area

Abstract

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm can be carried out in a remote and rural area with high uptake, acceptable clinical results and at no greater cost than in more densely populated areas.

Uptake of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening. A Cohort Study

“…Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) has a prevalence of around 5% in men who are over 65 years 1,2 and is responsible for 1.4% of deaths in men in the UK. 3 Screening men over 65 has been shown to reduce aneurysm related mortality 4e7 and to be cost effective 4,8e11 although any screening programme is dependent upon its uptake to be effective.…”

“…Screening is offered at over 50 sites across the region. The programme has previously reported high uptake 2 and the long term follow-up of men who attended for screening has been described. 14 Socioeconomic status is indicative of deprivation and has been shown to affect the uptake of screening for cancer.…”

Influence of rurality, deprivation and distance from clinic on uptake in men invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

“…AAA screening has been undertaken in the neighbouring Highland region among men aged 65–74 years since 2001. After two invitations overall uptake was 90 per cent across 51 sites (mainly general practice surgeries and a single city hospital) over 10 years.…”

The effect of surgeon specialization on outcomes after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

“…Several studies have shown that AAA screening programs in rural or underserved areas can be successful and cost-effective. 20,21 By preventing the rupture before it happens, any discussion about difference in mortality by surgeon specialization becomes moot.…”