5th Annual Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK & Ireland 2020
Special Virtual COVID Edition
#ADADUK20
Since COVID-19 dominated the news, especially in healthcare, for much of 2020, it would be easy to forget that another lethal disease, Aortic Dissection, remained a national patient safety issue in the UK & Ireland, killing more people each year than road traffic accidents.
On September 19th 2020 – Global Aortic Dissection Awareness Day – the UK & Ireland joined with the worldwide AD patient movement to once again raise awareness of this issue and of the urgent need to improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for Aortic Dissection patients.
We are delighted that the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, agrees with us that not enough is being done about Aortic Dissection and that he chose in 2019 to release a short video about this for AD Awareness Day UK in 2019, which you can watch here. Matt’s powerful words remained as true in September 2020 as they were a year before, in part because COVID-19 temporarily took away the ability of Government and the NHS to focus on the national issue of Aortic Dissection.
On 19th September 2020, we again called for a return to the urgent task of saving the lives of Aortic Dissection patients in the UK & Ireland, many of whom are currently dying unnecessarily, This is because they do not receive prompt diagnosis and the right specialist care. We have all seen during the COVID pandemic what the NHS can do, in very short order, when it focuses its resources on a life-threatening disease and frankly, we want some of that!
AD Awareness Day UK 2020 was, of necessity, a virtual celebration. We hope that you find the online content that we put together interesting, inspiring and a catalyst for change.
Pre-COVID-19, we had planned to hold our flagship national event for 2020 at the Bristol Cricket Ground, where our hosts would have been the wonderful NHS professionals of the Bristol Aortic Service. We awarded the honour of hosting AD Awareness Day UK 2020 to them because of their pioneering work improving the diagnosis and treatment of Aortic Dissection, which is an example to the nation. Bristol deserves this award in 2021, so we have rolled-it forward and hope that you will join us for AD Awareness Day UK in Bristol on Thursday 16th September 2021. Save the date now!
In the meantime, please celebrate every AD Awareness Day with us and use these online resources to help us raise awareness and change the Aortic Dissection landscape for the better.
Gareth Owens & Catherine Fowler
Chair & former Vice-Chair
Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

Surviving an AD
Steve Curry, AD survivor talking about his experience of surviving Aortic Dissection, live on South-East Radio, Wexford, Ireland
Steve Curry and Dr. John Cronin talk about the challenges of diagnosing a life-threatening Aortic Dissection, live on Ireland AM TV during AD Awareness Week in Sept. 2020
The Cardiac COVID Study by St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Prof. Julie Sanders, Ms Tootie Bueser, Cardiac Surgery patient Edward Hyde and Prof Aung Oo. SEE UPDATE HERE
What happened since ADADUK19 in Leicester?
An update on our collaborative AD Screening Research programme started at ADAD2019 with the University of Leicester, by Dr. Riccardo Abbasciano
The Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland 2020 annual In Memoriam of those we lost to Aortic Dissection, with Gareth Owens
Diagnosing Aortic Dissection in the Emergency Setting
Dr. Emma Redfern and Prof. Mark Callaway (from ADADUK18)
A short video from Matt Hancock MP, for Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, reiterating the need for awareness, early detection and treatment and including a pledge on government research funding.
“Today is a Good Day”
A film on the birth and progress of Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland, which won the 2020 Rare Disease Film Festival UK People’s Choice Award
Your invitation to AD Awareness Day UK 2021 in Bristol by Dr. Emma Redfern and Prof. Mark Callaway of the Bristol Aortic Service
#AorticDissection Awareness Day UK & Ireland on Sat 19th September this year is a virtual event, open to all. Today, we released the programme. No need to register. Just have a look and decide how to spend your Saturday... #ADADUK20 pic.twitter.com/RYA3X96iq3
— Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland (@AorticDissectUK) September 17, 2020
A privilege to host #aorticdissectionawarenessday yesterday hearing from patients & clinicians about improving care @AorticDissectUK pic.twitter.com/Mx1lP9nG2G
— LHCH (@LHCHFT) September 20, 2017
Today is #AorticDissectionAwarenessDay
— Heart Research UK (@heartresearchuk) September 19, 2019
Our Head of Research Helen is at @uniofleicester today with the lovely Aortic Dissection Awareness UK group ♥️
If you would like to support our Heart Research UK Aortic Dissection Masterclass, email Rachel on community@heartresearch.org.uk pic.twitter.com/yRLjEwTN2Q
A socially distanced catch up @LHCHFT with a rock star of the aortic world to support @AorticDissectUK @Icarus1054 aortic dissection awareness day on 19th September. Know the symptoms and take action #ADADUK20 pic.twitter.com/s2Ub5euN0A
— jane tomkinson (@janetomkinson07) September 18, 2020
If you have family w/ aortic dissection, it can be genetic. Get regular ekg scans! https://t.co/ASsxKeTKLl #aorticdissectionawarenessday
— Carly Rappold (@carlyritter) September 19, 2016
In an emergency, make sure you get the right scan to rule out aortic dissection -- CT, MRI, or echocardiogram. A chest X-ray or EKG cannot rule out aortic dissection. More info on #Marfan & #aorticdissection at https://t.co/HpRIbr1LaX #aorticdissectionawarenessday @ADsept19 pic.twitter.com/E5Ss06cbUC
— TheMarfanFoundation (@MarfanFdn) September 13, 2018
#AorticDissectionAwarenessday coming up #September19. It is observed internationally! Let’s do our part and help educate all! Not just then but every day! #MarfanSyndrome https://t.co/rJuOPxt2mI
— Aortic Dissection US (@AorticDissectUS) August 26, 2019
My husband’s life was saved at UM last summer after an aortic dissection at age 46. God bless him, all survivors of this life-threatening scenario & the team @umichCVC - Drs. Patel, Eliason & their staff are 2nd 2 none ❤️ #aorticDissectionAwarenessDay https://t.co/UywoLyfGJ0
— Meg Leonard (@MegLeo6) September 20, 2018
Today is the global #AorticDissectionAwarenessDay, please make people aware of this condition using this infographic pic.twitter.com/0TN20l9Roh
— Heart Research UK (@heartresearchuk) September 19, 2016
Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland is the national patient charity for Aortic Dissection in the UK & Ireland.
Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK is our flagship national event which happens every 19th September - see our Events page.
THINK AORTA is our life-saving global campaign to improve awareness, diagnosis and prevention of this lethal disease.
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