One SR was included to assess the effect of AAA screening on planned and emergency operations (Lindholt & Norman 2008). The SR was determined to be of medium quality (Appendix EFF-2, Section 2). GRADE SoF tables for these outcomes are shown in Appendix EFF-2 Section 5.

As this research question also is covered in the Organisational Aspects domain (ORG), result card ORG19 is therefore referred to for EFF19.

Planned operations in men (long-term)

The SR by Lindholt & Norman was the most recent SR assessing long-term (i.e. after 7 to 15 years) planned operations in men (Lindholt & Norman 2008). Three RCTs included in total 86,479 men aged between 64 and 83 years randomised to an invitation to attend screening for AAA (n=43,167) or no invitation (control; n=43,312). Pooled analysis of the three ORs showed a significant increase in planned operations (long-term) in the screened group (see SoF table in Appendix EFF-2 Section 5). The fixed-effect OR was 2.81 with 95% CI from 2.40 to 3.30, P<0.00001.

Planned operations in men (medium term)

The SR by Lindholt & Norman was the most recent SR assessing medium term (i.e. after 3½ to 5 years) planned operations in men (Lindholt & Norman 2008). Four RCTs included a total of 125,576 men aged between 64 and 83 years randomised to an invitation to attend screening for AAA (n=62,729) or no invitation (control; n=62,847). Pooled analysis of the four ORs showed a significant increase in planned operations (medium term) in the screened group (see SoF table in Appendix EFF-2 Section 5). The random-effect OR was 3.27 with 95% CI from 2.14 to 5.00, P<0.00001.

Emergency operations in men (long-term)

The SR by Lindholt & Norman was the most recent SR assessing long-term (i.e. after 7 to 15 years) emergency operations in men (Lindholt & Norman 2008). Three RCTs included a total of 86,479 men aged between 64 and 83 years randomised to an invitation to attend screening for AAA (n=43,167) or no invitation (control; n=43,312). Pooled analysis of the three ORs showed a significant reduction in emergency operations in the screened group (see SoF table in Appendix EFF-2 Section 5). The random-effect OR was 0.48 with 95% CI from 0.28 to 0.83, P=0.009.

Emergency operations in men (medium term)

The SR by Lindholt & Norman was the most recent SR assessing medium term (i.e. after 3½ to 5 years) emergency operations in men (Lindholt & Norman 2008). Four RCTs included a total of 125,576 men aged between 64 and 83 years randomised to an invitation to attend screening for AAA (n=62,729) or no invitation (control; n=62,847). Pooled analysis of the four ORs showed a significant reduction in emergency operations in the screened group (see SoF table in Appendix EFF-2 Section 5). The fixed-effect OR was 0.55 with 95% CI from 0.39 to 0.76, P=0.0003.