Risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm and the influence of social deprivation.
BACKGROUND
the objective of this abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening study was to determine attendance and disease prevalence patterns in Northern Ireland and the role of deprivation and other risk factors.


METHODS
patients from primary care practices from Belfast, Lisburn, and Saintfield were screened. Past medical history and deprivation details were determined.


RESULTS
2264 men from Belfast, 1104 men in Lisburn, and 284 in Saintfield were invited to attend. Overall, 1659 (45.3%) men attended, with 40.6% from Belfast, 55.0% from Lisburn, and 45.8% from Saintfield (P < .0001). Ninety-two (5.5%) new AAAs were diagnosed, with 6.5%, 3.8%, and 6.2% in the 3 areas (P = .055). As deprivation decreased, attendance increased and prevalence decreased. Smoking, peripheral arterial disease, number of medications prescribed, and geographical origin were independent risk factors for AAAs.


CONCLUSIONS
aneurysm prevalence is influenced by geographical origin and deprivation, which should, therefore, be important factors in health care planning and screening provision.
Badger
Stephen A
SA
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Stephen@Badger.tc
O'Donnell
Mark E
ME
Sharif
Muhammed A
MA
Boyd
Christopher S
CS
Hannon
Raymond J
RJ
Lau
Louis L
LL
Lee
Bernard
B
Soong
Chee V
CV
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012934:Social Isolation