A Multicentre Audit of Best Medical Therapy for Aneurysm Surveillance Patients P Stather, N Dattani, D Sidloff On Behalf of VERN

Background Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) increases cardiovascular (CV) risk NAAASP recommends BP and lipid control ESVS recommends antiplatelet Screening provides an opportunity to optimise best medical therapy AIM: To determine the proportion of patients with small AAA receiving best medical therapy (BMT)

Methods Multicentre audit – Promoted through VERN Retrospective review – Patients undergoing AAA surveillance – Aortic diameter > 3cm Data collected – Age – Medications – Smoking status – Documented advice BMT definition – On antiplatelet – On statin (or alt) – Not smoking

Results 986 patients – Median age 75.6 years 25.7% not on antiplatelet 22.8% not on statin 25.1% current smokers Overall, only 51.3% of patients were non-smokers on antiplatelet and statin therapy

Results Subgroup analysis for patients not on BMT – 79.1% offered advice to start antiplatelet agent – 75.3% offered advice to start statin – 62.7% offered smoking cessation advice In total, regarding BMT advice – 67.3% of patients were given full advice – 10.8% were given partial advice – 21.9% were given no advice

Conclusions Nearly 50% of AAA surveillance patients not on BMT Significant number additionally not offered proper advice Recommendations – Clearer instructions from NAAASP to General Practitioners regarding instigation of BMT – For patients not on BMT, local hospital guidelines to start BMT