Results of asingle center vascular screening program in Germany

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Europe with arelevant socioeconomic burden. Ascreening program for vascular diseases in asymptomatic persons with adefined risk constellation can lead to an early diagnosis. The study examined ascreening program for carotid stenosis, peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in persons without any known vascular disease with respect to demographic data, risk factors, pre-existing conditions, medication intake, detection of pathological findings and/or findings requiring treatment. Test subjects were invited using various information material and filled in aquestionnaire on cardiovascular risk factors. The screening took place with measurement of the ABI and duplex sonography as amonocentric prospective single arm study within 1 year. Endpoints were the prevalence of risk factors and pathological and/or results requiring treatment. A total of 391 persons participated, 36% presented with at least 1cardiovascular risk factor, 35.5% with 2 and 14.4% with 3 or more. The sonography showed results requiring control with acarotid stenosis of < 50-> 75% or occlusion in 9%. An AAA with adiameter of 3.0-4.5 cm was diagnosed in 0.9% and apathological ABI < 0.9 or > 1.3 in 12.3%. The indications for apharmacotherapy were found in 17% and no operation was recommended. The practicability of ascreening program for carotid stenosis, PAOD and AAA of adefined risk population was shown. Vascular pathologies that required treatment were hardly found in the catchment area of the hospital. Consequently, the implementation of this screening program in Germany based on the collected data cannot currently be recommended in this form.