Ultrasound screening of abdominal aortic aneurysm reduces deaths
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE
MRC/36/09
EMBARGO: 00:01 hours (UK time) Friday 26 June
The mortality benefit of one-off screening was shown to be maintained for up to ten years, despite an increase in ruptures amongst those screened as normal. About half of all aneurysm-related deaths could be prevented by a nationwide screening programme. The long-term cost-effectiveness of screening was also shown to be highly favourable.
Professor Simon Thompson, Director of the Medical Research Councils Biostatistics Unit said: “We conclude that the UK national screening programme for AAA should, in the long term, achieve a halving of the AAA-related mortality rate in men aged over 65, and that it will be an extremely cost-effective programme for the NHS.”
The trial concludes that to maximize the benefit from a national screening programme, emphasis should be placed on achieving a high initial attendance rate and good adherence to clinical follow-up, preventing delays in undertaking surgery, and maintaining a low operative mortality after elective surgery. Based on current evidence, re-screening of those originally screened as normal is not justified.
The UK national screening programme for men aged 65 is currently being initiated (from spring 2009). This is mainly as a result of the MASS trial, and the long-term follow-up strengthens the evidence in support of its implementation. The start-up of the national screening programme will take 3-4 years to achieve full coverage of the country.
For further information and to arrange an interview with Professor Simon Thompson and colleagues on this project, please contact Nicola Osmond-Evans in the MRC Press Office on 0207 670 5138 or press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
• * Screening men for abdominal aortic aneurysm: ten-year mortality and cost-effectiveness results from the randomised Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study(MASS) is published on the BMJ website, www.bmj.com
• The Medical Research Council is dedicated to improving human health through excellent science. It invests on behalf of the UK taxpayer. Its work ranges from molecular level science to public health research, carried out in universities, hospitals and a network of its own units and institutes. The MRC liaises with the Health Departments, the National Health Service and industry to take account of the public’s needs. The results have led to some of the most significant discoveries in medical science and benefited the health and wealth of millions of people in the UK and around the world. www.mrc.ac.uk
• The study is based on a population-based sample of 67,770 men aged 65-74.
• Over 10 years, there were 155 AAA-related deaths (absolute risk 0.46%) in the invited group and 296 (0.87%) in the control group (relative risk reduction 48%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 37% to 57%).
• Based on the 10-year trial data, the incremental cost per man invited to screening was £100 (95% CI £82 to £118), leading to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £7600 (95% CI £5100 to £13,000) per life-year gained. However, the incidence of AAA ruptures in those originally screened as normal increased noticeably after 8 years.
Press contact: 020 7637 6011
press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
