Systemic inflammation prevalence in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease: a population-based study using a nationwide primary care database in Spain Target journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Giancarlo Pesce ^1* Gaelle Gusto ¹ Pierre Johansen ² Artak Khachatryan ¹ Bernabe Lopez-Ledesma ³ Jelena Vukmirica ² Aleix Cases ⁴

• ¹ Certara (United States), Princeton, United States
• ² Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Copenhagen, Denmark
• ³ Novo Nordisk Pharma S.A., Madrid, Asturias, Spain
• ⁴ Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Proportion of patients with systemic inflammation (defined as CRP ≥ 2mg/L) was estimated at the first CRP measurement (index date) and at the end of the study. Patients' characteristics, comorbidities, and drug dispensation in the prior 12 months were reported by systemic inflammation status at index date.Overall, 15,798 patients with ASCVD were included in the study (mean age: 71.1 years; 57% males), of whom 34% had CKD. The proportion of patients with systemic inflammation at index date was 58% (65% among CKD patients), and 56% (62% among CKD patients) at study end. Patients with systemic inflammation were more frequently smokers, obese, with comorbidities, and had higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides level than patients without systemic inflammation. Overall, patients with ASCVD and systemic inflammation used less frequently statins and aspirin compared to patients without systemic inflammation, while they more frequently used antibiotics, anticoagulants, and antihypertensives.Systemic inflammation prevalence is high among patients with ASCVD in Spain, especially among patients with comorbid CKD. Therapeutic strategies focused on targeting systemic inflammation may have beneficial effects in reducing the burden of ASCVD.