Key result
Elective AAA repair remains linked to high long-term excess mortality, with ~87% higher risk for women.
Why the study?
To estimate long-term excess mortality and associated cardiovascular risk after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, evaluating whether persistently high mortality reflects suboptimal treatment, changing patient populations, or a national phenomenon.
Does long-term excess mortality and cardiovascular risk change over time in patients after elective AAA repair?
Observational (n=40,730)
Yes
Does long-term excess mortality and cardiovascular risk change over time in patients after elective AAA repair?
Patients undergoing elective AAA repair continue to face high long-term excess mortality, driven by cardiovascular death, with women experiencing nearly double the excess mortality risk of men.
May warrant ongoing CV surveillance after elective AAA repair, especially in women; leaves open whether targeted strategies reduce excess mortality.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this time-trend analysis is to estimate long-term excess mortality and associated cardiovascular risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients after elective repair while addressing the changes in AAA management and patient selection over time. BACKGROUND: Despite the intensification of endovascular aneurysm repair and cardiovascular risk management, Swedish population data suggest that AAA patients retain a persistently high long-term mortality after elective repair. The question is whether this reflects suboptimal treatment, a changing patient population over time, or a national phenomenon. METHODS: Nationwide time-trend analysis including 40,730 patients (87% men) following elective AAA repair between 1995 and 2017. Three timeframes were compared, each reflecting changes in the use of endovascular aneurysm repair and intensification of cardiovascular risk management. Relative survival analyses were used to estimate disease-specific excess mortality. Competing risk of death analysis evaluated the risk of cardiovascular versus noncardiovascular death. Sensitivity analysis evaluated the impact of changes in patient selection over time. RESULTS: Short-term excess mortality significantly improved over time. Long-term excess mortality remained high with a doubled mortality risk for women (relative excess risk=1.87, 95% CI: 1.73-2.02). Excess mortality did not differ between age categories. The risk of cardiovascular versus noncardiovascular death remained similar over time, with a higher risk of cardiovascular death for women. Changes in patient population (ie, older and more comorbid patients in the latter period) marginally impacted excess mortality (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite changes in AAA care, patients retain a high long-term excess mortality after elective repair with a persistent high cardiovascular mortality risk. In this, a clear sex - but no age - disparity stands out.
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Bulder et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (n=40,730). Elective AAA repair vs. Different timeframes (1995-2017) was evaluated on Long-term excess mortality (relative excess risk 1.87, 95% CI 1.73-2.02). Elective AAA repair is associated with persistently high long-term excess mortality despite changes in care, with a doubled mortality risk for women (relative excess risk 1.87; 95% CI 1.73-2.02).
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