Information for the public about abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is available on the NHS website and in the below animation.

Male lifetime screening pathway

It is an individual’s choice whether or not to have screening. People can opt out if they do not want to receive screening invitations.

The NHS is committed to reducing inequalities and variation in screening participation to help make sure everyone has fair and equal access to screening services.

NHS England provides information about data use and patient confidentiality in population screening programmes.

Target population

AAA screening is offered to men during the screening year (1 April to 31 March) that they turn 65. Men aged 65 and over are most at risk of AAAs, and screening can help spot a swelling in the aorta at an early stage.

Screening is not routinely offered to groups where there is a smaller risk of an AAA. These are:

• men under the age of 65
• women
• anyone who has already been treated for an AAA

Men who are resident in England receive an invitation in the post for screening when they are aged 64 or 65.

Men over 65 who have not received an invitation can contact their local AAA screening service to make an appointment.

Any women, or men under 65 who think they are at higher risk (for example, due to family history of the condition) can talk to their GP about the possibility of having a scan outside the screening programme.

If you are visiting from overseas and are registered with a GP practice, you may be invited for NHS screening services. Screening is normally free, but if it leads to further tests or treatments not provided by the GP practice, you may be charged for that additional care.

Condition screened for

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from the heart down through the chest and tummy. The NHS website has more information, including:

• symptoms of an AAA
• treatments of an AAA
• reducing your risk of an AAA

AAA screening test

The AAA screening test is a quick and painless ultrasound scan of the abdomen (tummy).

It is like the scan pregnant women have to check on their baby.

For the scan:

1. The man lies down on a table and lifts up or unbuttons his top (he does not need to undress).
2. The scanning technician rubs a clear gel on the tummy and moves a small handheld scanner over the skin – pictures from the scanner are shown on a monitor and the technician measures how wide the aorta is.
3. The technician wipes away the gel and the man pulls down or buttons up their top.
4. The technician tells the man his screening result straight away.

The whole test usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

There are 4 AAA screening results. These are:

• no aneurysm found
• small AAA
• medium AAA
• large AAA

You can read more on the NHS website about what each result means, and what will happen next.

Evidence base

AAA screening is one of 11 NHS national population screening programmes available in England.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) makes recommendations to ministers in the 4 UK countries on all aspects of population screening. It ensures that screening provides more benefit than harm, at a reasonable cost to the NHS.

Recommendations are based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review process.

Read the UK NSC recommendation on AAA screening.

Data and intelligence

NHS England collects routine data and key performance indicators (KPI) data reports to monitor the uptake of AAA screening.

Requests for screening data and research

All requests for screening data need to be approved by the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme Research Advisory Committee.

There are terms of reference for NHS population screening programme research advisory committees.

Commissioning

NHS England publishes the AAA screening pathway requirements specification, which provides an overview of AAA screening by describing what should happen at each stage of the end-to-end pathway. Providers and commissioners should use this to ensure high quality and consistent screening services.

Providers and commissioners should also use the supporting documents to ensure a fit for purpose programme is set up and meets the required standards.

Quality assurance

The role of the screening quality assurance service (SQAS) is to:

• assess the quality of local screening programmes
• monitor compliance with standards
• support services with improving quality
• undertake regional level quality assurance visits

The programme specific operating model for quality assurance of the AAA screening programme should be read in conjunction with the operating model for PHE screening quality assurance service and the relevant programme standards.

Workforce: education and training

Education and training resources are available for healthcare professionals working in AAA screening.

There are also more general resources about population screening to support screening professionals in their initial training and continuing professional development (CPD).

Keep up to date

Contact the screening team

NHS England screening
Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG