title: Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms--a screening program in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an asymptomatic but potentially fatal condition. Elective surgery can prevent death from rupture, and is indicated for aneurysms larger than 45 mm. Because aneurysms tend to grow with time, detection of small ones (> 29 mm) may lead to a closer follow-up of patients at risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons aged 50 years or more were offered, through the press, the opportunity to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The total number screened was 2,756.
  
  
  METHODS
  All were submitted to abdominal palpation and ultrasound examination. PARAMETER STUDIED: A maximum diameter of 30 mm or more was considered to be an aneurysm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four aneurysms were detected, nine of which measuring more than 49 mm. Palpation detected 60 aneurysms, but only 20 of these were confirmed by the ultrasound. Conversely, 41 of the ultrasound-detected aneurysms were not palpable. The percentages of abdominal aortic aneurysms found in the subgroups via ultrasound examination (with 95% confidence interval) were as follows: total group, 2.3 (1.8-3); men, 4.6 (3.5-5.9); women, 0.6 (0.3-1.1); men aged 60 or more, 6 (4.3-8); women aged 60 or more, 0.9 (0.4-1.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1.8 to 3 % of persons aged 50 years or more are expected to have abdominal aortic aneurysms. In the subgroup of men aged 60 or more, the expected prevalence is between 4.3 and 8%.
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. cirurgia.vascular@hcnet.usp.br
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puech-Leão
authors.forename: Lazlo Josef
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: Ilka Regina de
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Giovanni Guido
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cerri
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014463:Ultrasonography