Cost-Effectiveness of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening

Conflicting results in two different populations illustrate the difficulty of forecasting the effects of an intervention in a changing environment.

Previously reported 4-year follow-up data from the U.K. population-based MASS trial indicated that ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) confers a significant mortality benefit and is borderline cost-effective (JW Cardiol Feb 7 2003). Two new studies further examine the cost-effectiveness of a national AAA screening program.

In one study, the MASS investigators provide their 10-year follow-up results. A representative sample of 67,700 men aged 65 to 74 was randomized to receive or not to receive an invitation to undergo abdominal ultrasound. Of 27,204 men who accepted the invitation, 1334 had AAAs. Patients with AAA diameters of 3.0 cm to 4.4 cm were rescanned yearly; those with AAA diameters of 4.5 cm to 5.4 cm were resca…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Cost-Effectiveness of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening

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Reviewing Author