A systematic review of short-term vs long-term effectiveness of one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in men with ultrasound

Outcomes of a pilot abdominal aortic aneurysm screening program in a population of Central Greece

BACKGROUND

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening has contributed in the decrease of aneurysm related and all-cause mortality. The objective of our study is to present our experience from the only existing pilot AAA screening program in Greece.

METHODS

Men from both urban and rural areas in Central Greece, aged >60 years old without a previously known diagnosis of AAA were invited through the public primary health care units to participate to a screening program. Demographics, comorbidities, family history and anthropometric data were recorded. Aortic diameter values of >30 mm and common iliac artery (CIA) diameter values of >18 mm, were defined as aneurysmatic by ultrasound.

RESULTS

The screening program included 1256 individuals (1256/1814; response rate 69%). The incidence of AAA and CIA aneurysm was 2% (25/1256) and 2.3% (29/1256), respectively. Increased age (P<0.042), tobacco use (P<0.006) and its duration (P<0.008) were related to higher incidence of AAA, while diabetes mellitus to lower one (P<0.048). Multivariate analysis showed that AAA was associated to longer duration of smoking (1.05, CI: 0.02-6.6; P=0.01). Statin and antiplatelet therapy were administrated in 40% (10/25) and 44% (11/25), respectively of individuals with AAA. An additional analysis was provided between subjects with AD of 25-30 mm and AD <25 mm. In multivariate analysis, no factor was associated to AD of 25-30 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AAA and CIA aneurysm in Central Greece is 2% and 2.3%, respectively. Smoking duration was the strongest associated factor with AAA incidence. This provides to healthcare policy makers a strong valid point for the prevention strategies.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Detected with Ultrasound in Korea and Belgium

The objective was to investigate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and the diameters of the aorta and common iliac arteries (CIAs) in a Korean cohort and secondly to analyze the differences in aortic diameter by comparison with a European cohort. The Korean cohort included participants ≥ 50 years who consented to AAA screening and data were analysed retrospectively. Aortic and common iliac diameters were measured using the outer-to-outer diameter method and prevalence rates were calculated. Common risk factors such as smoking, body mass index, pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, ischaemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease were reported in association with AAA occurrence and AAA development. The aortic diameters were then compared with those in a Belgian cohort of 2487 participants identified in the Liège AAA Screening Program. An aortic size index (ASI) was also calculated to account for the potential size differences in the Belgian and Korean populations. A total of 3124 Korean participants were examined using ultrasound. The prevalence of AAAs in this cohort was 0.7%. The combined prevalence of subaneurysmal dilatation and AAA was 1.5%. The prevalence in male smokers older than 65 years was 2.7% (19/715). The mean infrarenal aortic diameter was 17.3 ± 3.1 mm in men and 15.7 ± 2.7 mm in women; the corresponding values in Belgian participants were 19.4 ± 3.0 mm in men and 17.9 ± 2.4 mm in women. The median aortic size index was 0.99 (interquartile range 0.88-1.12). The mean infrarenal aortic diameter was significantly smaller in the Korean cohort than in the Belgian cohort. Considering the observed prevalence of AAAs in different age groups, the age groups which would contribute to most cases was male persons above 66 years in both cohorts.

Association between neighborhood deprivation and presenting with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm before screening age

OBJECTIVE

Recent data indicate social determinants of health (SDOH) have a great impact on prevention and treatment outcomes across a broad variety of disease states, especially cardiovascular diseases. The area deprivation index (ADI) is a validated measure of neighborhood level disadvantage capturing key social determinate factors. Abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture (rAAA) is highly morbid, but also preventable through evidence-based screening. However, the association between rAAA and SDOH is poorly characterized. Our objective is to study the association of SDOH with rAAA and screening age.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent operative repair of a rAAA at a multihospital healthcare system (2003-2019). Deprivation was measured by the ADI (scale 1-100), grouped into quintiles for simplicity, with higher quintiles indicating greater deprivation. Patients with the highest quintile ADI (89-100) were categorized as the most deprived. We investigated the association between neighborhood deprivation with the odds of (i) undergoing repair for rAAA before screening age 65 and (ii) undergoing endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) using logistic regression, sequentially modeling nonmodifiable then both nonmodifiable and modifiable confounding variables.

RESULTS

There were 632 patients who met the inclusion criteria (aged 74.2 ± 9.4 years; 174 women [27.6%]; 564 White [89.2%]; ADI 66.8 ± 22.3). Those from the most deprived neighborhoods (n = 118) were younger (71.7 ± 10.0 years vs 74.8 ± 9.2 years; P = .002), more likely to be female (36% vs 26%; P = .031), more likely to be Black (5.9% vs 0.4%; P = .007), and fewer underwent EVAR (28% vs 39.5%; P = .020) compared with those from other neighborhoods. On sequential modeling, residing in the most deprived neighborhoods was associated with undergoing rAAA repair before age 65 after adjusting for nonmodifiable factors (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.95; P < .001), and nonmodifiable as well as modifiable factors (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.56-3.16; P < .001). Those in the most deprived neighborhoods had a lower odds of undergoing EVAR compared with open repair after adjusting for nonmodifiable factors (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98; P = .042), and nonmodifiable as well as modifiable factors (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37-0.99; P = .047).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients who underwent rAAA, residing in the most deprived neighborhoods was associated with greater adjusted odds of presenting under age 65 and undergoing an open repair. These neighborhoods represent tangible geographic targets that may benefit from a younger screening age, enhanced education, and access to care. These findings stress the importance of developing strategies for early prevention and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases among patients with disadvantageous SDOH.

Chronic Atherothrombosis in a Sub-Massive Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a 91-Year-Old White Male Donor

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms became the standard of care in 2005, yet screening procedures continue to be underutilized. While improvements in mortality rates have been noted over the past 15 years, continued patient mortality from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms suggests a need for further research, regarding the effectiveness of the current screening process. Abdominal aortic aneurysms can progress silently, and the risk of rupture increases significantly with increase in diameter. We report a large, untreated infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm of 17 cm in length and 8 cm in diameter, showing the chronic atherothrombosis discovered in a 91 year-old white male cadaveric donor. A literature review was conducted to elucidate current understanding of the pathology, risk factors, screening recommendations, and treatment options available for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasonography (POCUS) on the Way to the Right and Rapid Diagnosis

Point-of-Care ultrasound (POCUS) is based on target ultrasound that is performed wherever a patient is being treated, and by a non-radiologist directly involved in the patient’s care. It is used either for quick diagnosis or procedural guidance. Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in emergency departments, and POCUS can help in the differentiation of patients who need additional diagnostic tests or hospital treatment, which eventually reduces the overall costs of health care. POCUS has high sensitivity and specificity in abdominal pathology, it can be helpful in the evaluation of biliary, intestinal, and urinary tract, and it is especially used in trauma. Additionally, the gold standard for abdominal aortic aneurysm detection, follow up and screening is precisely this diagnostic procedure. Unfortunately, the quality of ultrasound examination can be affected by the experience of the physician performing it and the patient’s body weight. There is no doubt that POCUS is being increasingly recognized, but all motivated physicians should be provided with dedicated tutors and enough time for learning. This would certainly help to implement this diagnostic method as a routine in emergency and critical care departments, and significantly shorten the time until definitive diagnosis.

Guidelines on the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms: updates from the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (SICVE)

The objective of these Guidelines was to revise and update the previous 2016 Italian Guidelines on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Disease, in accordance with the National Guidelines System (SNLG), to guide every practitioner toward the most correct management pathway for this pathology. The methodology applied in this update was the GRADE-SIGN version methodology, following the instructions of the AGREE quality of reporting checklist as well. The first methodological step was the formulation of clinical questions structured according to the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) model according to which the Recommendations were issued. Then, systematic reviews of the Literature were carried out for each PICO question or for homogeneous groups of questions, followed by the selection of the articles and the assessment of the methodological quality for each of them using qualitative checklists. Finally, a Considered Judgment form was filled in for each clinical question, in which the features of the evidence as a whole are assessed to establish the transition from the level of evidence to the direction and strength of the recommendations. These guidelines outline the correct management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm in terms of screening and surveillance. Medical management and indication for surgery are discussed, as well as preoperative assessment regarding patients' background and surgical risk evaluation. Once the indication for surgery has been established, the options for traditional open and endovascular surgery are described and compared, focusing specifically on patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms as well. Finally, indications for early and late postoperative follow-up are explained. The most recent evidence in the Literature has been able to confirm and possibly modify the previous recommendations updating them, likewise to propose new recommendations on prospectively relevant topics.

Abdominal Aortic Screening Is a Priority for Health in Smoker Males: A Study on Central Italian Population

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a major public health problem. In the last decade, in some European countries, abdominal aortic screening (AAS) is emerging as a potential prevention for the rupture of AAA. The goals of our study were to estimate AAA prevalence and risk factors in males and females in a central Italian population, also defining the cost-effectiveness of AAS programs. A pilot study screening was conducted between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 in the municipality of Teramo (Abruzzo Region, Italy) in a group of men and women, ranging from the age of 65 to 79, who were not previously operated on for AAA. The ultrasound was performed by means of Acuson sequoia 512 Simens with a Convex probe. The anterior posterior of the infra-renal aorta was evaluated. The odds ratio values (ORs) were used to evaluate the risk of AAA, and the following determinants were taken into consideration: gender, smoke use, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. We also estimated the direct costs coming from aneurysmectomy (surgical repair or endovascular aneurysms repair-EVAR). A total of 62 AAA (2.7%, mean age 73.8 ± 4.0) were diagnosed, of which 57 were in men (3.7%, mean age 73.6 ± 4.0) and 5 were in women (0.7%, mean age 74.3 ± 4.1). Male gender and smoke use are more important risk factors for AAA ≥ 3 cm, respectively: OR = 5.94 (2.37-14.99, p < 0.001) and OR = 5.21 (2.63-10.30, p < 0.000). A significant increase in OR was noted for AAA ≥ 3 cm and cardiac arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease, respectively: OR = 2.81 (1.53-5.15, p < 0.000) and OR = 2.76 (1.40-5.43, p = 0.006). Regarding the cost analysis, it appears that screening has contributed to the reduction in costs related to urgency. In fact, the synthetic indicator given by the ratio between the DRGs (disease related group) relating to the emergency and those of the elective activity went from 1.69 in the year prior to the activation of the screening to a median of 0.39 for the five-year period of activation of the screening. It is important to underline that the results of our work confirm that the screening activated in our territory has led to a reduction in the expenditure for AAA emergency interventions, having increased the planned interventions. This must be a warning for local stakeholders, especially in the post-pandemic period, in order to strengthen prevention.

Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Risk Factors in 65-Year-Old Men in Oslo, Norway

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in 65-year-old men in Oslo, Norway.

Materials and Methods

From May 2011, until September 2019, the annual population of 65-year-old men living in Oslo were invited to an ultrasonographic screening of the abdominal aorta. Candidates received a one-time invitation by mail, including a questionnaire on possible risk factors and comorbidities. Abdominal aortic outer-to-outer diameter and ankle-brachial index were measured by the screening team. Participants were allocated into three groups: non-, sub- and aneurysmal aorta. Written information on recommended follow-up regime was given to participants with an aortic diameter ≥25 mm. Univariate and multivariate analyses of potential risk factors were performed, in addition to descriptive analyses and significance testing.

Results

In total, 19,328 were invited, 13,215 men were screened, of which 12,822 accepted inclusion in the study. Aortic diameter was registered for 12,810 participants and 330 men had aortic diameter ≥30 mm, giving a prevalence of AAA of 2.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31-2.86). We identified 4 independent risk factors for AAA: smoking (OR = 3.64, 95% CI 2.90-4.58), hypertension (OR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.49-2.35), BMI >30 (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03), and diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.35-0.79), the latter showing an inverse association with AAA growth. A subgroup of 862 men with aortic diameters 25-29 mm had a significantly higher prevalence of BMI >25, smoking and family history of AAA, compared to participants with aortic diameter <25 mm.

Conclusion

Among the participants in this study, the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms was 2.6%. Participants with AAA more frequently reported cardiovascular risk factors, and less frequently diabetes mellitus.

Validation of natural language processing to determine the presence and size of abdominal aortic aneurysms in a large integrated health system

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies of the natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have been limited by small cohort sizes or heterogeneous analyses of pooled data. By quickly and efficiently extracting imaging data from the health records, natural language processing (NLP) has the potential to substantially improve how we study and care for patients with AAAs. The aim of the present study was to test the ability of an NLP tool to accurately identify the presence or absence of AAAs and detect the maximal abdominal aortic diameter in a large dataset of imaging study reports.

METHODS

Relevant imaging study reports (n = 230,660) from 2003 to 2017 were obtained for 32,778 patients followed up in a prospective aneurysm surveillance registry within a large, diverse, integrated healthcare system. A commercially available NLP algorithm was used to assess the presence of AAAs, confirm the absence of AAAs, and extract the maximal diameter of the abdominal aorta, if stated. A blinded expert manual review of 18,000 randomly selected imaging reports was used as the reference standard. The positive predictive value (PPV or precision), sensitivity (recall), and the kappa statistics were calculated.

RESULTS

Of the randomly selected 18,000 studies that underwent expert manual review, 48.7% were positive for AAAs. In confirming the presence of an AAA, the interrater reliability of the NLP compared with the expert review showed a kappa value of 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.85), with a PPV of 95% and sensitivity of 88.5%. The NLP algorithm showed similar results for confirming the absence of an AAA, with a kappa of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.799-0.80), PPV of 77.7%, and sensitivity of 91.9%. The kappa, PPV, and sensitivity of the NLP for correctly identifying the maximal aortic diameter was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.87-0.89), 88.8%, and 88.2% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of NLP software can accurately analyze large volumes of radiology report data to detect AAA disease and assemble a contemporary aortic diameter-based cohort of patients for longitudinal analysis to guide surveillance, medical management, and operative decision making. It can also potentially be used to identify from the electronic medical records pre- and postoperative AAA patients "lost to follow-up," leverage human resources engaged in the ongoing surveillance of patients with AAAs, and facilitate the construction and implementation of AAA screening programs.

Aortic aneurysm screening using duplex ultrasound: Choosing wisely who to examine

The noninvasive vascular laboratory plays a critical role in screening patients at risk for development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). One-time duplex ultrasound screening reduces aneurysm-related mortality due to rupture and is cost-effective. Population screening based on AAA risk factors is recommended, as it allows for proactive, elective repair of aneurysms at risk for rupture, and surveillance of smaller aneurysms for enlargement. Utilization of societal screening guidelines, such as those published by the Society for Vascular Surgery, can be employed by vascular laboratories to justify individual patient screening, aid primary care physicians to refer patients for testing, and encourage integrated medical health care systems to build prompts in patient electronic health records to ensure compliance with a AAA screening program. Risk factors for developing AAA, that is, age older than 65 years, male sex, family history, and a smoking history of >100 cigarettes, should be used to recommend patient screening, including for women and other elderly (older than 75 years) patients who fall outside of professional societal guidelines.

Nationwide Analysis of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Portugal (2000-2015)

OBJECTIVE

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is a lethal condition that requires acute repair to prevent death. This analysis aims to assess the nationwide trends in rAAA admission, repair and mortality in a country, Portugal, without national screening for AAA.

METHODS

rAAA registered in the hospital administrative database of the National Health Service and all nationally registered deaths due to rAAA based on death certificate data were analysed. Three time periods (2000-2004, 2005-2009, and 2010-2015) were compared in patients ≥ 50 years old to assess the variations over time.

RESULTS

A total of 2 275 patients ≥50 years old with rAAA were identified in the two databases from 2000 to 2015. The age standardised incidence of rAAA was 2.78 ± 0.24/100 000/year in 2000-2004, 3.17 ± 0.39/100 000/year in 2005-2009 and 3.21 ± 0.28/100 000/year in 2010-2015 (p < .001). When comparing the time periods 2000-2004 to 2005-2009, the age standardised rate of admission (n = 1460) increased from 1.57 ± 0.25/100 000/year to 2.24 ± 0.32/100 000/year (p < .001). The operative mortality rates decreased during this time period (from 55.3 ± 4.7% to 48.8 ± 4.7%, p < .001). In 2010-2015, the age standardised rate of admissions due to rAAA decreased (1.98 ± 0.22/100 000/year). Operative mortality remained stable (48.9 ± 6.2%). The rate of patient deaths outside the hospital decreased from the first to the second period (1.21 ± 0.10/100 000/year and 0.93 ± 0.29/100 000/year, respectively) but later increased (1.14 ± 0.22/100 000/year). This resulted in a higher overall rAAA related mortality in Portugal in the third period (2.20 ± 0.18/100 000/year, 2.21 ± 0.27/100 000/year and 2.26 ± 0.26/100 000/year in 2000-2004, 2005-2009, and 2010-2015, respectively, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the incidence of rAAA in Portugal has been stable over the past 10 years. The rates of admission, repair, and death due to rAAA repair seem to have reached an inflection point and are now decreasing. Mortality outside the hospital remains a matter of concern, warranting further planning of streamlined transfer networks and vascular surgical departments.