The epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is common and aneurysm rupture accounts for 1.7% of all deaths in men aged 65-74 years. Most deaths are now preventable. Early diagnosis by routine ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta in elderly men should permit elective aneurysm replacement before rupture in the majority of patients.