# Opportunistic Ultrasound Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

## TL;DR

This study shows that checking for abdominal aortic aneurysms during routine ultrasounds can effectively detect the condition, especially in older men with certain risk factors.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the efficacy of opportunistic screening for AAA during unrelated ultrasound exams in a large, multicenter setting.

## Key findings

- 1.3% of patients had an abdominal aortic aneurysm detected during opportunistic screening.
- The diagnostic rate increased with age, and risk factors included older age, male sex, and cardiovascular conditions.
- The abdominal aorta was well visualized in 92.9% of patients undergoing echocardiography.

## Abstract

Objective: In patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), early detection and optimal elective treatment before rupture are desirable. In the absence of an established public screening system, opportunistic screening during ultrasound examination for another purpose might be efficacious. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of opportunistic screening for AAA.

Methods: This prospective multicenter observational study enrolled patients who were scheduled to undergo ultrasound for reasons other than AAA. After the ultrasound for the original purpose, evaluation of the abdominal aorta was added. If the abdominal aorta was clear enough for measurement, its diameter and shape were recorded. Furthermore, information on comorbidities was collected for each patient.

Results: A total of 10325 patients (echocardiography: 6150; abdominal ultrasound: 4162) from 16 institutions were enrolled. The abdominal aorta was well visualized in 92.9% of patients who underwent echocardiography. Among 9791 patients, AAA was diagnosed in 122 (1.3%) (107 fusiform and 15 saccular), with a diameter range of 30–63 mm. The diagnostic rate increased with age. On multivariate analysis, older age, male sex, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and smoking habituation were the risk factors for AAA.

Conclusion: Opportunistic screening for AAA was efficacious.