In a powerful display of proactive healthcare, the Leg Circulation Service (LCS) at North Manchester LCO recently teamed up with the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening team for a groundbreaking awareness and research event.

Held at the iconic Manchester City Football Club on February 26, 2026, the initiative aimed to answer a vital question: Can we save more lives by offering additional vascular health checks alongside routine AAA screening?

Targeting Men at Risk

The event specifically reached out to men aged 65 and over across Greater Manchester—a group invited annually for AAA scans but who may not always attend. Undiagnosed vascular disease can be silent and deadly; if left untreated, it can lead to critical limb loss or early death.

By bringing screening to a familiar, community-focused venue like the Etihad Stadium, the team hoped to engage those who might otherwise slip through the net.

Innovation in Action

This study is part of the Manchester Amputation Reduction Strategy (MARS), a wider program dedicated to research and innovation in vascular health. The day was a true collaborative effort, involving MLCO staff alongside researchers, podiatry lecturers, and students from the University of Salford.

The Results: Small Checks, Big Impact

During the event, 87 men received a vascular foot and leg health check. While 77% of those screened appeared healthy, the “one-stop” check-up flagged several potentially life-altering conditions that might otherwise have gone unnoticed:

• 11 cases of possible Peripheral Arterial Disease (13%)

• 7 cases of possible venous or lymphatic conditions (8%)

• 2 serious conditions requiring immediate attention: one critical wound and one irregular heartbeat.

The Future of Vascular Care

These preliminary results are currently being analysed by study leads. The goal is to determine if rolling out these “dual” screening initiatives across Manchester could become a standard way to protect our population from undiagnosed vascular disease.

By catching these conditions early, the LCS and MARS teams aren’t just treating symptoms—they are saving limbs and, ultimately, saving lives.