[Echographic screening of the abdominal aorta in older men is not useful].
Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (AAA) is a normal symptom of old age, the prevalence and chance of rupture of which are highly exaggerated, and which very seldom leads to death. The result of screening is that many men (5%) are medicalised unjustly and exposed to the severe risks of a surgical intervention. The mortality during open surgery is 5-6%. Screening has no effect on the total mortality.
van der Graaf
Y
Y
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Julius Centrum voor Gezondheidswetenschappen en Eerstelijns Geneeskunde, Huispost STR 6.131, Postbus 85.500, 3508 GA Utrecht. y.vandergraaf@umcutrecht.nl
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009026:Mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography