Does ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm reduce mortality?

Abstract

Screening reduces mortality in men, although it's unclear whether it has the same effect in women. Screening for aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) with ultrasound in men 65 to 79 years of age reduces AAA-specific mortality (number needed to screen [NNS] to prevent one death from AAA=769 men over 3 years). However, a trend toward reduced all-cause mortality doesn't reach significance, possibly because of the low incidence of AAA (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, systematic review of 4 population-based randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Evidence is inadequate to demonstrate benefits of screening in women.