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Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm: are we missing the opportunity for cardiovascular risk reduction?

G M Lloyd1, J D Newton, M G A Norwood

  • 1Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, England. geraint_l@hotmail.com

Journal of Vascular Surgery
|October 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) have prevalent cardiovascular disease. Current pharmacologic risk reduction treatment is suboptimal, indicating a need for improved management to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors are prevalent in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
  • Occlusive arterial disease, particularly coronary heart disease, contributes to reduced life expectancy in AAA patients.
  • Pharmacologic therapies like antiplatelet agents, statins, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers are proven to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of CVD and associated risk factors in patients diagnosed with AAA.
  • To determine the proportion of AAA patients indicated for specific pharmacologic therapies.
  • To assess the adequacy of current treatment for cardiovascular risk in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study conducted in Leicestershire.
  • Involved 313 patients diagnosed with AAA.
  • Data collected over a 15-month period (September 2002 to December 2003).

Main Results:

  • Indications for antiplatelet agents (92%) and statin drugs (75%) were high in eligible patients.
  • Indications for beta-blockers (34%) and ACE inhibitors (57%) were also significant.
  • Treatment rates were suboptimal: 60% used antiplatelets, 41% used statins, 38% used beta-blockers, and 39% used ACE inhibitors, despite indications.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in patients with AAA.
  • Current pharmacologic management of cardiovascular risk factors in AAA patients is suboptimal.
  • Improving treatment strategies could significantly reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this cohort.
Abstract

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