Atherosclerotic Risk and Statin Use Among Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2020-07, Vol.76 (3), p.251-264
• Main Authors: Colantonio, Lisandro D., Hubbard, Demetria, Monda, Keri L., Mues, Katherine E., Huang, Lei, Dai, Yuling, Jackson, Elizabeth A., Brown, Todd M., Rosenson, Robert S., Woodward, Mark, Muntner, Paul, Farkouh, Michael E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - epidemiology; Atherosclerosis - prevention & control; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular events; comorbidities; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Global Health; Humans; hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Peripheral Arterial Disease - epidemiology; Peripheral Arterial Disease - prevention & control; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; secondary prevention; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.05.048

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. The goal of this study was to compare the risk for ASCVD events and the use of statins among patients with PAD versus those with coronary heart disease (CHD) or cerebrovascular disease. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults age ≥19 years with commercial or Medicare health insurance who had a history of PAD, CHD, or cerebrovascular disease on December 31, 2014. Patients were followed for ASCVD events comprising CHD, cerebrovascular disease, and PAD events until December 31, 2017. Among 943,232 patients included in the analysis, the age-standardized ASCVD event rate per 1,000 person-years for those with a history of 1, 2, and 3 conditions including PAD, CHD, and cerebrovascular disease was 40.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.3 to 41.3), 68.9 (95% CI: 67.9 to 70.0), and 119.5 (95% CI: 117.0 to 122.0), respectively. The ASCVD event rate among patients with PAD only, CHD only, and cerebrovascular disease only was 34.7 (95% CI: 33.2 to 36.2), 42.2 (95% CI: 41.5 to 42.8), and 38.9 (95% CI: 37.6 to 40.1), respectively. Among patients with PAD and CHD, with PAD and cerebrovascular disease, and with CHD and cerebrovascular disease, the ASCVD event rate was 72.8 (95% CI: 71.0 to 74.7), 63.9 (95% CI: 60.6 to 67.4), and 67.9 (95% CI: 66.4 to 69.3), respectively. Statin use was lower in patients with PAD only (33.9%) versus those with cerebrovascular disease only (43.0%) or CHD only (51.7%). Despite having high risk for ASCVD events, patients with PAD were less likely to be taking a statin versus those with CHD or cerebrovascular disease. ASCVD risk-reduction interventions including statin therapy in patients with PAD are warranted. [Display omitted]