Nation's Top Preventive Health Panel Endorses Ultrasound for AAA Screening
In 2005, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force-the nation's pre-eminent preventive services panel-has recommended ultrasound screening to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in elderly male smokers. The aneurysms account for some 9,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
- The panel recommended that males age 65 - 75 who have smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their lives obtain one-time ultrasound screening to detect AAA's.
- The recommendation is based upon four randomized controlled studies that included 125,000 participants.
"While the prognosis for abdominal aortic aneurysm is poor, ultrasound imaging is an accurate and reliable test for detecting AAAs before rupture," wrote the authors. 1
- An analysis of the four studies showed screening may reduce AAA-related mortality by 43% in men age 65-75 years of age.
The preventive services panel also concluded that AAA screening is cost-effective.
- "The USPSTF review of 4 relevant cost-effectiveness studies of AAA yielded an estimated cost-effectiveness ratio of population-based AAA screening (compared with no screening) that is in the same range as that of other cost-effective, preventive services," said the panel.2
- Fleming, C et al. "Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Best-Evidence Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force." Annals of Internal Medicine. Feb 2005, Vol 142, No 3; 203-211.
- "Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Recommendation Statement, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force." Annals of Internal Medicine. Feb 2005, Vol 142, No 3; 198-202.
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