Abstract 12463: Awareness and Perceptions Towards Inflammatory Risk in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Multinational Survey Amongst Cardiologists

Abstract

Background: In patients (pts.) with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (ASCVD+CKD), systemic inflammation (SI) contributes to high cardiovascular (CV) risk. Awareness and perception of SI and use of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) amongst cardiologists is less understood. Aims FLAME-ASCVD survey assessed the level of awareness and perceptions of cardiologists towards the role of SI (primary objective) and hsCRP as a biomarker in pts. with ASCVD+CKD. Methods: This was a non-interventional, cross-sectional, global online survey-based study that collected data from interventional (IC) and/or general cardiologists (GC), treating ≥15 ASCVD+CKD pts./month and practiced for ≥3 years. Survey used an online questionnaire, across 10 countries (Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UK) during Mar-May 2023. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of the 1755 who responded to the survey invitation, 602 eligible cardiologists (IC=247, GC=355) completed the questionnaire (~60/country). Overall, CV risk factors discussed with pts. were hypertension (88%), hyperlipidaemia (82%), hyperglycaemia (78%), and SI ranked tenth at 43%. Overall, 72% agreed that SI was a risk factor for ASCVD, 64% as one of the drivers for CV events and 73% agreed that SI contributed to risk of recurrent CV events. Overall, 64% (n=386) acknowledged intent to test for SI in management, and 41% of these, stated that results influenced decision to initiate anti-inflammatory treatment. 49% of those not measuring for SI (n=216), stated lack of medication for SI as a reason. Overall, 47% used hsCRP as a test for SI and 45% stated the need for guidelines as one of the factors to establish testing in practice. Conclusion: In this survey, SI was perceived as a CV risk factor, but not to the same level as traditional CV risk factors. There is a need for better understanding of SI and hsCRP testing in patients with ASCVD+CKD.