Association Between Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Retrospective Review of US Claims Data

Background: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) consists of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), asthma, and hypersensitivity to aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Asthma is associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). However, there is lack of data on association between AERD and ASCVD. Objective: To investigate the relationship between AERD and subsequent risk of ASCVD. Methods: An algorithm to find patients with AERD was generated and validated through chart review at our home institution. This algorithm was applied to a national insurance claims database to obtain data for a retrospective cohort study. Demographic and comorbidity data were obtained for propensity matching. Several methods of analysis were performed on the data. Results: A total of 571 patients met criteria for AERD; 3909 met criteria for asthma, CRSwNP, and no allergy to aspirin or NSAIDs (group 1); and 75,050 met criteria for asthma, CRS without nasal polyps, and no allergy to aspirin or NSAIDs (group 2). After covariate adjustment, AERD was significantly associated with ASCVD, including severe ASCVD, over groups 1 and 2 regardless of asthma severity. Conclusion: Patients with AERD are at higher risk of ASCVD than patients with asthma and CRSwNP or CRS without nasal polyps, underscoring the need for early ASCVD screening and a consideration for aspirin desensitization or use of a nonaspirin antiplatelet agent in the setting of AERD and comorbid ASCVD.