Wie ist die Umsetzung eines AAA-Screening-Programms in Deutschland möglich?

Background: Screening programs are currently of upmost importance in health politics. Large international studies of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programs showed a significant decrease in aneurysm-dependent mortality. In view of these findings, AAA screening programs have been implemented in various countries with variable healthcare infrastructures.

Aim: In Germany a screening program also urgently needs to be introduced but realization depends on a variety of factors. This article presents the health service system in Germany and compares it with countries that have already established AAA screening programs. A comparative analysis of factors influencing possible conditions for introducing an AAA screening program in Germany was carried out.

Material and methods: A nationwide written survey of 2000 representatively chosen German family practitioners was carried out in order to evaluate their knowledge of AAAs, the availability of ultrasound devices and the motivation for performing the screening.

Results: A majority of German family practitioners possess the required knowledge of AAAs and the ultrasound skills to perform the screening. In addition, more than two thirds were in possession of an ultrasound device. Most practitioners were confident of performing a screening and would participate in a nationwide screening of AAAs.

Conclusion: The conditions for a nationwide implementation of an AAA screening program performed with the help of general practitioners are fulfilled, considering knowledge, motivation und ultrasound availability. Owing to the lower logistic and financial expenditures in comparison to foreign AAA screening programs, the implementation by general practitioners seems to be advantageous.