Around 25% of participants in a US national screening programme for vascular disease are at risk of having a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, indicates a four year analysis.
The screening programme, known as “Legs for Life,” was set up in 1997 for adults at risk of peripheral vascular disease. It was developed by the US Society of Interventional Radiology as a public education programme. It has screened 300 000 people to date, 30% of whom were considered to be at high or moderate risk of peripheral vascular disease.
Figure 1.
Aortic aneurysms are more likely in smokers over 60 with a family history of the condition
Credit: ZEPHYR/SPL
Abdominal aortic aneurysm accounts for more than 15 000 deaths annually in the United States and affects an estimated 5% to 7% of people aged 60 years or above.
One in 20 of the aneurysms (5.3%) detected in the screening programme was larger than 5 cm, a size considered to carry a high risk of rupture and to require treatment. A further one in four (22.5%) were larger than 3.5 cm and, while not posing an immediate risk of rupture, merited continuing observation.
The four year results of the “Legs for Life” national screening programme for vascular disease were presented last week at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology. A risk assessment questionnaire was used, and participants found to be at risk were given an ultrasound examination.
Risk factors for an aortic aneurysm are age of 60 or above, smoking, having a family history of aortic aneurysm, and having other conditions that affect the blood vessels, such as heart disease or diabetes. Men are more likely to have an aortic aneurysm than women.