Increase in health care costs due to aorta calcification and low ABI in older men

Abstract

In the recently published full length article by Schousboe and colleagues [ [1] Schousboe J.T. Vo T.N. Langsetmo L. Adabag S. Szulc P. Lewis J.R. et al. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) predict health care costs and utilization in older men, independent of prevalent clinical cardiovascular disease and each other. Atherosclerosis. 2020; 295: 31-37 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar ], high levels of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and low ankle-brachial index (ABI) were associated with higher subsequent health care costs after accounting for clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, prevalent CVD diagnoses, and each other. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) predict health care costs and utilization in older men, independent of prevalent clinical cardiovascular disease and each otherAtherosclerosisVol. 295PreviewAbdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and low ankle-brachial index (ABI) are markers of multisite atherosclerosis. We sought to estimate their associations in older men with health care costs and utilization adjusted for each other, and after accounting for CVD risk factors and prevalent CVD diagnoses. Full-Text PDF Reply to: “Increase in health care costs due to aorta calcification and low ABI in older men”AtherosclerosisVol. 300PreviewWe appreciate the comments of Dr. Tasci and colleagues concerning our article [1] describing the association of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) with health care utilization and costs. They raise the issue that cognitive impairment, depression, and fracture may be confounding variables that explain the observed associations of AAC and ABI with health care costs and utilization. We have conducted additional analyses that suggest that these factors are unlikely to account for the associations we observed. Full-Text PDF