There are around 3,000 deaths each year in England and Wales in men aged 65 and over from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (commonly known as AAA).Deaths from AAA account for 1.7% of all deaths in men aged 65 and over.
Around 1 in 70 men aged between 65-74 in England have an AAA.
Vascular disease (including death from a ruptured AAA) accounts for 40% of UK deaths.
Vascular disease is a s common as cancer and heart disease.
Some of the risk factors:
Male, aged 65 and over, smoker, high blood pressure or family history of AAA.
The NHS AAA Screening Programme invites men in England in the year they turn 65 for screening. Men over 65 can contact the programme directly or speak to their GP to arrange to be screened.
Screening will help to identify if you have a widened abdominal aorta and studies have shown that screening will prevent significant numbers of AAA ruptures and AAA deaths.
Please click on the following link for further information:
http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk/