K-Mart stores have taken the unusual - and controversial - step of offering in-store screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a localized, balloon-like dilation of a section of the aorta, within the abdomen. The main problem caused by AAA is the rupture of the aneurysm, an event which is often catastrophic. In fact, AAA accounts for 15,000 sudden deaths in the United States alone each year.
The large majority of people with ruptured AAA never knew they had an AAA until it was too late. If it had been known that an AAA was present, it could have been repaired surgically. For this reason, screening for AAA in high-risk populations (with a simple ultrasound test) is often a good idea.
The controversy arises over who should be screened. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening only for men between ages 65 - 75 who have ever been smokers. But up to 40% of ruptured AAA occur in women, and about 25% occur in non-smokers, so some experts (mainly, vascular surgeons, who are hardly disinterested parties) recommend screening in much broader groups of at-risk patients.
The new screening service being offered by K-Mart is sponsored by an organization called "Find the AAAnswers," which is run by vascular surgeons and Medtronic (a company that makes a device used for treating AAA). This organization would be pleased for almost everyone to have AAA screening, which would generate lots of business.
So: Should you go to K-Mart to be screened? There is no straightforward answer to this question. The right answer for the question, "who really ought to be screened?", if the answer were known, probably falls somewhere between the restrictive stance taken by the USPSTF, and the expansive stance taken by vascular surgeons and their industry partners.
In deciding for yourself whether or not to have screening for AAA next time you're in K-Mart, viewing the scary posters provided by "Find the AAAnswers," you should know the basics about AAA, the treatment options for AAA, and the pros and cons of screening. You can find that information here:
