When is screening for AAA appropriate?

When is screening for AAA appropriate?

• A. Men 65-75 years old with a history of tobacco use
• B. Women 40-50 years old
• C. Men under 60 with no risk factors
• D. Any person with a history of breast cancer

Answer: (A)

Screening for AAA is about detecting asymptomatic aneurysms in people most likely to benefit, primarily older men with a history of smoking. The strongest risk factors are age and tobacco exposure, so guidelines recommend a one-time abdominal ultrasound for men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked. This group has the highest prevalence of AAA and the greatest potential reduction in aneurysm-related death when screened. Screening people like women in their 40s–50s, or men under 60 with no risk factors, or anyone just because of a breast cancer history, yields little benefit and is not routinely advised.

Screening for AAA is about detecting asymptomatic aneurysms in people most likely to benefit, primarily older men with a history of smoking. The strongest risk factors are age and tobacco exposure, so guidelines recommend a one-time abdominal ultrasound for men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked. This group has the highest prevalence of AAA and the greatest potential reduction in aneurysm-related death when screened. Screening people like women in their 40s–50s, or men under 60 with no risk factors, or anyone just because of a breast cancer history, yields little benefit and is not routinely advised.