According to the latest annual report for the Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (WAAASP), the uptake of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has increased significantly. In 2018-2019, four out of five men who were invited for screening took up the offer.
The AAA screening test is offered to men aged 65 years residing in Wales and registered with a GP. Since May 2015, those aged >65 years have also been able to request screening through the local screening offices.
The report indicates that 16,487 men were invited for screening between April 2018 and March 2019, of which 13,328 attended. AAA was detected among 141 individuals who were screened. Among these, 57 men were referred to specialised vascular services after screening and 49 men underwent open or endovascular surgery.
Llywela Wilson, Head of WAAASP, said: “Not every AAA will rupture, but if it does, the chances of getting to hospital and surviving surgery are very poor. It is estimated that around 85 per cent of people with a ruptured AAA will die, and that many of these will die before reaching a hospital."