Screening men for aortic aneurysm

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7373.1123

BMJ 2002;325:1123-1124 ( 16 November )

Editorials

Screening men for aortic aneurysm

A national population screening service will be cost effective

Papers p 1135

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially lethal condition, much more common in older men, and, sadly, often first recognisedonly after rupture and death. Some 75% of patients die beforearriving at hospital, and of the survivors, half make it to theoperating theatre.¹ The operative mortality for ruptured aneurysmremains about 40% at 30 days,² compared with a mortality of5-6% for elective surgery.³ Surely early ultrasound detectionshould be worth while. We now have the previously missing datato justify a national screeningprogramme.

The Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study Group reports the outcomes of aneurysm related mortality with health related qualityof life and cost effectiveness. ⁴ ⁵ The authors conclude thata single ultrasound scan in men aged 65 reduces aneurysm relateddeaths at acceptable cost. They put screening to the test in apopulation based randomised controlled trial of 70 000 men atfour centres in the south of England, an . . . [Full text of this article]

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Screening for aortic aneurysm: Simon Curtis and Richard M Lynch
BMJ 2003 326: 284. [Extract] [Full Text]

Multicentre aneurysm screening study (MASS): cost effectiveness analysis of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms based on four year results from randomised controlled trial: Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study Group
BMJ 2002 325: 1135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Greenhalgh, R. M (2004). National screening programme for aortic aneurysm. BMJ 328: 1087-1088 [Full text]
Earnshaw, J J, Shaw, E, Whyman, M R, Poskitt, K R, Heather, B P (2004). Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in men. BMJ 328: 1122-1124 [Full text]
(2003). AAA Screening: Benefits and Cost-Effectiveness. Journal Watch Cardiology 2003: 4-4 [Full text]
Curtis, S., Lynch, R. M (2003). Screening for aortic aneurysm. BMJ 326: 284-284 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Can we do better in managing aortic aneurysms?: Richard G Fiddian-Green
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2002 [Full text]
What About The Human Cost?: Simon P Curtis
bmj.com, 26 Nov 2002 [Full text]