Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in Western Australia.
A study of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) was performed. During a 6 month period, 1225 men and women aged 60-80 years were screen at a variety of community venues. Screening was well received by the public and logistically simple to perform. Thirty-three AAA were detected with sizes between 30 and 81 mm. In the 60-80 year age group, the prevalence of AAA > 30 mm in diameter was 4.7% in men and 0.35% in women, and the prevalence of AAA > 50 mm was 0.6% in men and 0.17% in women. Cigarette smoking, but not hypertension or diabetes, was found to be a significant risk factor for AAA. This study confirms that screening for AAA is feasible and yields high prevalence rates in major population centres.
Nicholls
E A
EA
Department of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Norman
P E
PE
Lawrence-Brown
M M
MM
Goodman
M A
MA
Pedersen
B
B
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014904:Western Australia