Abdominal aorta aneurysm screening program in Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship: early results

Introduction: The prevalence of abdominal aorta aneurysms (AAA) is estimated to be between 1.3–12.5% in men and 5.2% in women, which poses a serious public health issue. Ruptured aorta aneurysm most often causes internal bleeding and ultimately leads to death. The cause of high mortality is the asymptomatic occurrence of AAA. Usually, the first symptom is its rupture The aim of our paper is to provide a relationship between the percentage of the population reporting to the vascular surgeon and the type of residence based on the analysis of data from screening studies carried out in one of the regions of Poland. Material and methods: Patients previously informed about the free diagnostics in the Provincial Hospital in Kielce were examined by qualified physicians with ESAOTE MyLab Seven ultrasound device. Prior to that, patients were asked to fill a questionnaire to acquire data about their risk factors, demography, and medical history. Results: A total of 22 (7.3%) aneurysms were found in a group of 301 patients, of which 20 (6.6%) were found in men and 2 (0.66%) in women. Conclusions: Screening tests are an effective method to significantly improve early detection of AAAs. However, it is necessary to provide easier access to health professionals qualified to perform ultrasound examinations. It is especially important for the population of men with a family history of AAA, because they are at a higher risk of developing this pathology. The incidence rate of AAA observed in our study is consistent with the data published in worldwide literature.