Men over 70 are missing out on vital aorta scan

TENS of thousands of men in Wales are missing out on a lifesaving test which could stop them suffering catastrophic and potentially fatal internal bleeding.

The Wales abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programme was rolled out in May 2013 and invites men for a scan when they reach their 65th birthday.

But there are concerns that those who were 65 and older before its implementation have not been notified of the test by the Welsh NHS.

AAA is defined as a swelling of the aorta, the main artery that supplies blood to the body, and can quickly lead to death with little warning.

Often likened by doctors to “a blowout in a car tyre”, the condition can cause the wall of the aorta in the abdomen to split and tear, leading to severe blood loss, ruptures, and subsequently low survival rates.

Men are six times more likely to have an AAA than women and it becomes increasingly common with age. Between 2013 and 2018 Public Health Wales says the screening programme has identified 905 people suffering with the condition.

And according to its figures, more than 96.5% of AAA patients recover with planned surgery if they are screened in time.

But there are fears many elderly people have no idea about the dangers of the condition as they have never been made aware of the test.

Timothy Maddison, 79, who underwent a triple heart bypass in 2008 and suffered a stroke, said he only found out about the screening programme by chance after seeing a story online.

“I was not aware of the scheme and never received any notification of my eligibility for the scan,” he said.

“As the test has been restricted to those who have just reached 65, I fear it has excluded thousands like myself who were over 65 when the aorta scan was introduced in May 2013.

“A ruptured aorta generally results in death, so it is difficult to understand why they failed to invite everyone over 65 to have the life-saving scan, especially as they have the names and addresses of everyone in Wales who is registered with a GP.”

Once he discovered the screening programme, the Ystrad Mynach resident said he contacted his local scanning unit and was given an immediate appointment.

Public Health Wales estimates about 85% of people with a ruptured aneurysm will die, and that many of these will die before reaching a hospital.

Even for those who reach hospital alive, it says about 30-75% of people with ruptured aortic aneurysm will die as a result.

An AAA can happen to anyone but it is most common in men aged 65 and over who are smokers, have high blood pressure and cholesterol or have a family history of the condition.

In response, the Welsh Government said there was a campaign in 2015 which urged people over 65 before 2013 to refer themselves for testing.

If you are a man over 65 who has never been for an NHS AAA screening scan, you can ask for a scan by contacting the screening programme on: north Wales: 01492 863 563, south-east Wales: 01443 235 161, south-west Wales: 01792 453 162.

aaascreening.wales.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions#16