Low Prevalence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Among 65-Year-Old Swedish Men Indicates a Change in the Epidemiology of the Disease

Abstract

On the basis of the observed reduced exposure to risk factors, lower-than-expected prevalence of AAA among 65-year-old men, unchanged AAA repair rate, and significantly improved longevity of the elderly population, the current generally agreed-on AAA screening model can be questioned. Important issues to address are the threshold diameter for follow-up, the possible need for rescreening at a higher age, and selective screening among smokers.