Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) is a disease which describes an overlarge abdominal aorta which may lead to its rupture which usually ends fatal. AAAs concern about 2 – 6 % of all men aged 65+. Prevalence for women is only about one fifth of that of men, but the probability of ruptures is about four times higher. Ultrasonic screening is used for diagnosis with about 100 % sensitivity and specificity, it is cheap and therefore considerations about addition of organized AAA screening to the medical checkup program in Austria are obvious. Simulation models allow evaluation of AAA screening programs, especially testing assumptions which cannot be examined in real life experiments or clinical trials due to ethical, technical (time horizon) or cost-related reasons. The purpose of this project was a) to develop a simulation model for development, screening, treatment and corresponding costs of AAA in Austria, b) to analyze AAA-induced cases for 65-year old people over 20 years, c) to simulate the influence of key factors for AAA development and rupture, d) to compare continuation of current practice of incidental AAA detection with organized screening and e) to assess organized screening following EUnet HTA core information.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
