Why Screen for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
The disease is mostly a problem of older men with around 5% of men aged 65-74 having an AAA, many of whom will not know they have the condition. In Scotland between 2001 and 2005, an average of 284 men aged 65 years and older died from AAA each year, with around 60% of these deaths being preventable with ultrasound screening.
In the first year of scanning 65 year old men, between 4 and 6 lives could be saved with this figure rising to around 170 lives or more saved each year once a point is reached when all men older than 65 years have been offered screening. This represents many more years of life added to the male Scottish population.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Screening
A screening programme for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) will be implemented in Scotland in line with the advice from the National Screening Committee (NSC). The programme is to be phased in over the period from 2011 to 2013.
One scan only is required at age 65 which, if negative, effectively rules out the life-threatening disease for the rest of that man's life. If an aneurysm is found, regular surveillance scans should be undertaken within a screening programme to watch for enlargement and the potential need for intervention.