Thousands of men are failing to benefit from a life-saving screening programme, which aims to detect a potentially fatal condition known as an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).
The NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme was first introduced in spring 2009, and is gradually being rolled out across the UK.
Under the scheme, men aged 65 are invited by their GP to attend a screening appointment – yet many are failing to do so.
Silent Killer
The aorta is the major blood vessel supplying the body. With age, the wall of the vessel may weaken and stretch, forming what is known as an ‘aneurysm’.
While the majority of abdominal aortic aneurysms are not dangerous, larger aneurysms can burst suddenly – a situation which is usually fatal.
The condition – which kills 7,000 people each year – is six times more common in men than in women, and the incidence rises with age. Other risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure and having a family member with an aneurysm.
Quick and painless
Wandsworth – one of the first regions to benefit from the Programme – has seen poor levels of attendance all summer. In September, less than four in ten men came to their appointment.
St George's Hospital
Mr Ian Loftus, consultant vascular surgeon at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, said: ‘Men who are suffering from this condition will not generally notice any symptoms, which is why screening is so important. The test at St George’s is simple, pain-free and usually takes less than ten minutes.’
During the appointment a small scanner is placed on the stomach – similar to that used in pregnancy. Unlike many other screening tests, the results are available immediately.
Outcome
If no aneurysm is detected, men will not require screening again. In those where a small aneurysm is found, a repeat scan is recommended to monitor its growth.
Rarely, men will be referred straight to a surgeon for treatment, which is a relatively simple procedure known as ‘endovascular repair‘.
Awareness
Uptake of cervical screening by women has risen in the past year – probably due to increased public awareness following the death of Jade Goody.
St Thomas' Hospital
Mr Matt Waltham, consultant surgeon at St Thomas’ Hospital – which has also seen poor attendance rates – blames the current situation on men’s ignorance:
‘The problem we’re encountering is that the majority of people aren’t coming to their appointments. This is probably because they don’t know about the condition and that it has no symptoms, but that decision is potentially putting their lives at risk’.
