Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects 6.8 million patients globally and is independently associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. In a review paper published Dec. 7 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, MD, MPH, PhD, et al., discuss the epidemiological links between IBD and ASCVD and potential mechanisms underlying this association.

The authors of the review address the challenges that preventative cardiologists face when managing cardiovascular risk in patients with IBD. These challenges "include limited available guidance and the inability of commonly used clinical risk estimators to fully capture their excess ASCVD risk."

They also examine the role of chronic inflammatory conditions in current primary prevention guidelines, proposed strategies for enhanced ASCVD prevention among patients with IBD, and evidence gaps and future directions in the field.

"A strong collaboration between gastroenterologists and preventive cardiologists, aggressive screening and management of traditional risk factors, and optimal management of IBD, particularly during flares, can help decrease ASCVD risk in this patient population," the authors conclude.

Clinical Topics: Prevention

Keywords: Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiology, Atherosclerosis, Primary Prevention, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

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