ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Population screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men is currently ongoing in several countries. The aim was to examine the effects of deprivation and ethnicity on uptake of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and prevalence of AAA. METHODS: This was a review of outcomes from a population screening programme using data collected contemporaneously on a bespoke national database. Men aged 65 in two annual cohorts (2013/14 and 2014/15) were invited for AAA screening. Attendance and prevalence of AAA (aortic diameter >2.9 cm) were recorded. Results were compared according to measures of social deprivation and recorded ethnicity. RESULTS: Some 593,032 men were invited and 461,898 attended for ultrasound screening; uptake 77.9%. Uptake was related to social deprivation: 65.1% in the most deprived decile, 84.1% in the least deprived: OR for least deprived 2.84, 95% CI 2.76-2.92, p<.0001. Men in deprived areas were more likely to actively decline screening: 6% versus 3.8% in the least deprived decile. AAA were twice as common in the most deprived compared with the least deprived decile: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.77-2.27, p<.0001. AAA were more common in white British men than in black (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.31-0.71) or Asian (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.13-0.26) men. There was considerable local variation in all findings. CONCLUSIONS: Social deprivation affects uptake of AAA screening in 65 year old men. Local factors are the most important determinants of uptake, so solutions to improve uptake must be designed at local, not national level.
Subject(s)
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/diagnostic imaging , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/ethnology , Asian People , Black People , Cultural Deprivation , Healthcare Disparities/ethnology , Mass Screening/methods , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/ethnology , Poverty , Ultrasonography , Aged , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/psychology , Asian People/psychology , Black People/psychology , England/epidemiology , Health Behavior/ethnology , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Odds Ratio , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme was introduced by the National Health Service (NHS) in England to reduce the rate of death from ruptured AAA in men. The programme commenced in 2009 and was implemented completely across the country in April 2013. The aim was to review the first 5 years of the programme, looking specifically at compliance and early outcome. METHODS: Men aged 65 years were invited for a single abdominal ultrasound scan. Data were entered into a bespoke database (AAA SMaRT). This was a planned analysis after the first 5 years of the programme. RESULTS: The summation analysis involved the first 700 000 men screened, and the first 1000 men with a large AAA referred for possible treatment. The prevalence of AAA (aortic diameter larger than 2·9 cm) in 65-year-old men was 1·34 per cent. Mean uptake was 78·1 per cent, but varied from 61·7 to 85·8 per cent across the country. Based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation, uptake was 65·1 per cent in the most deprived versus 84·1 per cent in the least deprived areas. Of the first 1000 men referred for possible treatment of a large AAA (greater than 5·4 cm), the false-positive rate was 3·2 per cent. Some 870 men underwent a planned AAA intervention (non-intervention rate 9·2 per cent), with seven deaths (perioperative mortality rate 0·8 per cent). CONCLUSION: The processes in the NHS AAA Screening Programme are effective in detecting and treating men with AAA.
Subject(s)
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/diagnostic imaging , Aortic Rupture/prevention & control , Mass Screening , Aged , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/complications , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/epidemiology , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/therapy , Aortic Rupture/mortality , England/epidemiology , False Positive Reactions , Humans , Male , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Patient Compliance/statistics & numerical data , State Medicine , UltrasonographySubject(s)
Aorta, Abdominal , State Medicine , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal , Humans , Mass Screening , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The NHS Abdominal Aortic Screening Programme (NAAASP) invites men in their 65th year for screening, men over 65 may self-refer into the programme. Most studies have concentrated on those invited for screening, little is known about the self-referral group. Our aim was to provide a descriptive analysis of the men who self refer to NAAASP for screening. METHOD: Information concerning basic demographic details and ultrasound results were recorded on the AAA SMaRT database. During nurse assessment data collected included smoking status, blood pressure, height, weight, and aspirin and statin therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS(®)20. RESULTS: A total of 58,999 men have self-referred to the NAAASP since its inception. The mean age at self-referral was 73 (47-100). The mean aortic diameter was 1.9 cm (0.8-12.1). Increased self-referral rates were observed following organised publicity. The incidence of AAA was 4.1% (n = 2438) compared with 1.4% in the invited cohort (age 65 years), of these 7.6% (n = 186) were >5.5 cm. Of the 186, 152 (81.7%) underwent surgery, of which 55.3% (n = 84) underwent EVAR. The 30-day mortality in the men treated electively was 0%. The mean time from referral to surgery was 69 (2-361) days, with 57.9% (n = 88) being treated within 8 weeks of detection. CONCLUSION: Self-referral has yielded higher detection rates than the invited cohort, more than justifying its cost. Now that NAAASP is fully operational it is important to continue media campaigns and publicity to target the "at-risk" men over 65 who would otherwise miss the benefits of AAA screening. Some key areas still need to be addressed.
