title: Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a hypertensive population.
abstract: Two studies were undertaken to estimate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a hypertensive population. The initial study screened hypertensive people from three local general practices. In this study 918 patients underwent ultrasound scanning of the abdominal aorta (498 men and 420 women). A total of 24 abdominal aortic aneurysms were identified; 20 in men (4%) and four in women (0.9%). Of these, 11 were > 4 cm in transverse diameter. Following this study, only hypertensive men over the age of 60 years and women over the age of 65 years were screened from a total of 29 general practices. Regular scanning sessions were held at each practice and 1328 patients attended (744 men and 584 women). A total of 43 abdominal aortic aneurysms were detected; 39 in men (5.2%) and four in women (0.7%). Hypertensive men are at increased risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysms and should be offered an initial ultrasound scan at 60 years of age. Female hypertensives yield a much lower detection rate and screening hypertensive females would probably be an inappropriate use of available resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, East Glamorgan General Hospital.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology