Screening Program of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (pilot project)

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease that poses a risk to men over 65 years of age, often discovered incidentally or only after a life-threatening rupture of the aneurysm. The main risk factors for the disease include smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and genetic predisposition. Early diagnostics using ultrasound, which has high specificity and sensitivity, allows for timely elective surgical or endovascular treatment. AAA screening programs worldwide have shown significant effectiveness in preventing aneurysm rupture and reducing mortality, making their broader implementation justified. In 2025, Estonia will initiate its first AAA screening program to diagnose the disease at an early stage. The pilot project will invite 65-year-old men from both Tartu and Tartu County as well as Tallinn and Harju County to participate in the screening. The official partners of the clinics for the project's implementation are the North Estonia Medical Centre and the University of Tartu. If the pilot project is successful, a nationwide screening program could be initiated.