Abstracts from the 2013 SVM Annual Scientific Sessions

Abstract

Objective: The identification of asymptomatic vascular disease by screening may help reduce major vascular morbidity and mortality. However, reliable contemporary prevalence estimates for AAA and other serious vascular pathologies in men and women are lacking. Methods: Between August 2008 and June 2012, 283,924 adults underwent 4 cardio-vascular screening tests at 5800 sites across the UK and Ireland: Aortic ultrasound scan (AAA defined as > 30 mm diameter); Carotid duplex (moderate stenosis: PSV = 125–230 cm/s; high-grade stenosis: PSV > 230 cm/s); Ankle brachial pressure index (peripheral arterial disease [PAD] defined as ABPI Results: 39.7% of attendees were male. The overall prevalence of AAA was 1.0% (2503/255,304): 2.1% in men and 0.3% in women. Significant carotid artery stenosis (CAS) was seen in 2.8% (7813/275,088) of participants (1.7% moderate and 1.1% high-grade), and 3.4% of men and 2.4% of women screened had significant CAS. PAD was detected in 2.2% (5972/269,745) of participants (2.4% men and 2.1% women). AF was observed in 1.2% (2672/224,149) of those screened (2.0% men and 0.7% women). Conclusion: The prevalence of AAA was low in this self-selected population, particularly in women, but signifi- cant CAS, AF and PAD were observed more frequently. Point prevalence estimates and associations with major cardiovascular risk factors may help inform the development of a new targeted and more comprehensive vascular screening program, which could prevent heart attacks, strokes and amputations as well as AAA deaths in men and women.