• Ruth M A Bulder, Joost R van der Vorst, Jan van Schaik, Ajda Bedene, Willem M Lijfering, Esther Bastiaannet, Jaap F Hamming, and LindemanJan H NJHNDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands..
• Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
• Ann. Surg. 2023 Nov 1; 278 (5): 815822815-822.

ObjectiveThe 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.BackgroundDespite 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.MethodsNationwide 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.ResultsShort-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%).ConclusionsDespite 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.Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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