Has the balance of screening for AAA tipped towards harm?

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are usually asymptomatic until they rupture, which is fatal in more than 80% of cases. Screening aims to detect the aneurysm before it ruptures, enabling preventive surgery and hence reducing morbidity and mortality. However, preventive surgery has a mortality of 3.9-4.5%. As the prevalence of risk factors, ie smoking, decreases and the definition of the condition is expanded, Minna Johansson from the University of Gothenburg and colleagues wonder if the balance of benefit and harm may have tipped. Read the full analysis: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h825