Epidemiology, risk factors and management of cardiovascular diseases in IBD

Patients with IBD have a modestly increased risk of coronary heart disease and strokeIn patients with IBD, the magnitude of the increase in cardiovascular risk is higher in women than in men and in young adults (<40–50 years) than in older adults (>50–60 years)Patients with IBD have evidence of premature vascular disease with structural, functional and biochemical changes indicative of subclinical atherosclerosis; IBD also promotes spontaneous platelet activation and aggregation, predisposing patients to atherothrombosisAlthough conventional cardiovascular risk factors are not over-represented in patients with IBD, nonconventional chronic inflammation-based risk factors (IBD disease activity) are directly related to risk of cardiovascular eventsAggressive disease-modifying biologic therapy might favourably modify the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with IBDCommonly used cardiovascular medications, such as statins, could improve IBD disease activity