Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms--a screening program in São Paulo, Brazil.
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%.
Puech-Leão
Pedro
P
Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. cirurgia.vascular@hcnet.usp.br
Molnar
Lazlo Josef
LJ
Oliveira
Ilka Regina de
IR
Cerri
Giovanni Guido
GG
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