Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme returning to Orkney
A simple scan to detect a condition that affects 1 in 20 men (or those assigned male at birth), aged over 65 will once again be offered by NHS Orkney. The condition is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (known as “triple A”) which is potentially fatal. AAA can affect the main artery which runs from the heart, through the chest and down to the abdomen. Any weakness in the wall of this artery means it can balloon out to form an aneurysm, which can then burst.
The early detection sessions are part of Scotland’s Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme. The AAA screening service will be visiting The Balfour in early October and those men who have turned 65 and have not previously been scanned should receive an invitation letter, in the post, to attend. Last year, 89% of those eligible took up that invitation. During the programme, men will receive an ultrasound scan, a simple, painless scan of their abdomen that can detect an aneurysm. Results are then available straight after the scan.
If the scan is normal, then the chance of those individuals developing an aneurysm in the future is extremely low. If a small or medium sized aneurysm is found, then regular scans will be offered to monitor any increase in size over time. Large aneurysms are uncommon, but if found (or if a smaller aneurysm becomes larger), an immediate referral will be made to the Vascular Unit in NHS Grampian.
Kirsti Jones, Advanced Health Protection Nurse Specialist at NHS Orkney and on behalf of the local AAA Screening Team said: “Most individuals will be completely unaware that they have this condition, unfortunately, the first sign of a problem for many is when the aneurysm bursts. By that time, it’s often too late and more than 8 in 10 ruptures prove fatal. A straightforward, ten-minute scan can detect an aneurysm early and potentially save hundreds of lives each year.”
A healthy lifestyle can prevent the development of an AAA, slow down the expansion of an aneurysm and reduce the risk of it bursting. The most significant single risk factor is smoking. Regular walking and a healthy diet also reduce the health risks associated with AAA. Those looking for support to stop smoking can find information here, Quit Your Way Orkney – Stop Smoking Service.
If you are part of a community group for men – particularly those aged over 65 years of age – and would like to perhaps organise inviting the screening team to talk about the service with you, please email ork.publichealth@nhs.scot and someone will get in touch with you to discuss this.
More information regarding the AAA screening can be found at NHS Inform, NHS Inform - AAA Screening.
Transgender women and non-binary persons assigned male at birth who are aged over 65 will be automatically invited if they have not changed their CHI to female OR if their CHI number was changed after 14th June 2015. If your CHI was changed to female on or before 14th June 2015 and you have never been scanned, please self-refer to the screening service - you can find contact details for your local screening service at NHS Inform - AAA Screening Centres.