Original Articles
30 June 2025
Vol. 4 No. 2 (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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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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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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Citations
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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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