Original Articles
30 June 2025

The role of dyslipidemia and gender-related risk factors in the management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms: a survey from the Italian Society of Angiology and Vascular Medicine and a call to action

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Background: abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) affects 1-3% of adults and carries a high fatality rate if ruptured. Although it is more common in men, women tend to have worse outcomes. Screening high-risk individuals is cost-effective, and lipid-lowering therapies (LLT) improve survival but are often underused, especially among women.
Methods: the Italian Society for Angiology and Vascular Medicine (SIAPAV) conducted a survey among healthcare professionals on AAA management, with a particular focus on lipid profile assessment, treatment, and gender differences.
Results: in a lipid management survey (64 respondents), most assessed lipid levels but rarely measured lipoprotein(a). Only 42.2% reported treating over 70% of their patients with statins, despite low rates of intolerance. A gender-specific survey (78 respondents) showed that women accounted for less than 20% of AAA patients, with limited evaluation of gynecological and obstetric histories, despite their importance as cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Conclusions: current guidelines recommend statins and LDL-C levels below 55 mg/dL for AAA patients; however, LLT remains underprescribed, particularly in women. These findings underscore the need for improved AAA management and greater attention to gender-specific risks, highlighting the importance of international collaboration.

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How to Cite



The role of dyslipidemia and gender-related risk factors in the management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms: a survey from the Italian Society of Angiology and Vascular Medicine and a call to action. (2025). Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/btvb.2025.164

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