Psychological Consequences of Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Conservative Treatment of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

AbstractObjective to describe the potential psychological consequences of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods the participants were prospectively and randomly sampled from a randomised screening trial for AAA and asked to complete a validated generic and global anonymous quality of life (QL) questionnaire by self-assessment (ScreenQL). Material case–control study: ScreenQL was completed once by 168 (48%) of 350 non-responders to screening, 271 (81%) of 335 attenders before screening, 286 (85%) of 335 attenders after screening, 127 (85%) of 149 with a small AAA diagnosed at screening, and 231 (66%) of 350 who were randomised not to be offered screening for AAA (controls). Prospective study (paired data): 127 men having a small AAA diagnosed. Twenty-nine (81%) of 36 men operated after initial conservative treatment. Results initially, the QL score was 5% lower among men with a small AAA compared to the controls (p<0.05), mainly because of poorer health perception. The QL score declined significantly further to 7% below control values during the period of conservative treatment. This impairment was mainly due to a 21% and 15% reduction in scores relating to health perception and psychosomatic distress, respectively. However, all scores improved to control levels in patients operated on. The QL of attending men for screening was significantly lower than that of the controls and the attenders after the screening. No differences were noticed concerning the non-attenders.Conclusion the offer of screening causes transient psychological stress in subjects found not to have AAA. However, diagnosis of an AAA seems to impair QL permanently and progressively in conservatively treated cases. This impairment seems reversible by operation. Nevertheless, the impairment seems considerable, and must be considered in the management of AAA and in the final evaluation of screening for AAA

Five-year Results of Elastin and Collagen Markers as Predictive Tools in the Management of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

AbstractObjective small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) do rupture and only half of AAAs above 5 cm would have ruptured unoperated. Furthermore, conservative treatment of AAAs may cause psychological side effects and impaired quality of life. To optimise the indication and time for operation for AAAs, we analysed whether serum elastin peptides (EP), procollagen-IIIN-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), and the initial AAA size could predict operation for AAAs in initially conservatively treated AAA. Material and methods in 1994, 4404 65–73 year old males were invited to hospital-based screening for AAAs by ultrasonography. Seventy-six percent attended. One hundred and forty-one (4.2%) had AAAs (def: +30 mm). Nineteen were offered operation (AAA +50 mm), and 112 were followed with annual control scans for 1–5 years (mean 2.5 years). Of these, 99 had their EP (ng/ml) and PIIINP (ng/ml) determined using ELISA and RIA techniques. Two observers and one scanner were used. Results the mean expansion rate was 2.7 mm/year. The initial AAA size (r=0.46; 0.26–0.61), EP ( r =0.31; 0.11–0.49), and NPIIIP ( r =0.24; 0.02–0.44) was independently significant associated to expansion rate in a multiple linear regression analysis including the three mentioned variables. The multivariate formula could by ROC curve analysis predict cases reaching 5 cm in diameter within 5 years with a sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 87%, respectively, increasing to 91% and 94%, respectively, by accepting a 2 mm variation in those measurements. Twenty-three were lost to follow up, 21 of these due to death or severe illness. Of these, seven would have been predicted to reach an AAA size recommendable for surgery. If all 23 were included in the analysis, the sensitivity and specificity would have been 87% and 85%, respectively. Conclusion a predictive model using EP, PIIINP, and initial AAA size seems capable of predicting nine out of 10 AAAs that will be operated on within 5 years. However, a larger sample size is needed for clinical recommendations