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Bakbak E, Krishnaraj A, Bhatt DL, Quan A, Park B, Bakbak AI, Bari B, Terenzi KA, Pan Y, Fry EJ, Terenzi DC, Puar P, Khan TS, Rotstein OD, Mazer CD, Leiter LA, Teoh H, Hess DA, Verma S. Icosapent ethyl modulates circulating vascular regenerative cell content: The IPE-PREVENTION CardioLink-14 trial. MED 2024; 5:718-734.e4. [PMID: 38552629 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial) showed that icosapent ethyl (IPE) reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 25%. Since the underlying mechanisms for these benefits are not fully understood, the IPE-PREVENTION CardioLink-14 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04562467) sought to determine if IPE regulates vascular regenerative (VR) cell content in people with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS Seventy statin-treated individuals with triglycerides ≥1.50 and <5.6 mmol/L and either atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes with additional cardiovascular risk factors were randomized to IPE (4 g/day) or usual care. VR cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDHhi) were isolated from blood collected at the baseline and 3-month visits and characterized with lineage-specific cell surface markers. The primary endpoint was the change in frequency of pro-vascular ALDHhiside scatter (SSC)lowCD133+ progenitor cells. Change in frequencies of ALDHhiSSCmid monocyte and ALDHhiSSChi granulocyte precursor subsets, reactive oxygen species production, serum biomarkers, and omega-3 levels were also evaluated. FINDINGS Baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and medications were balanced between the groups. Compared to usual care, IPE increased the mean frequency of ALDHhiSSClowCD133+ cells (-1.00% ± 2.45% vs. +7.79% ± 1.70%; p = 0.02), despite decreasing overall ALDHhiSSClow cell frequency. IPE assignment also reduced oxidative stress in ALDHhiSSClow progenitors and increased ALDHhiSSChi granulocyte precursor cell content. CONCLUSIONS IPE-PREVENTION CardioLink-14 provides the first translational evidence that IPE can modulate VR cell content and suggests a novel mechanism that may underlie the cardioprotective effects observed with IPE in REDUCE-IT. FUNDING HLS Therapeutics provided the IPE in kind and had no role in the study design, conduct, analyses, or interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehab Bakbak
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Aishwarya Krishnaraj
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrian Quan
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brady Park
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Basel Bari
- Markham Health+ Plex, Markham, ON, Canada
| | | | - Yi Pan
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Pankaj Puar
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tayyab S Khan
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Joseph's Healthcare Centre, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ori D Rotstein
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of General Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - C David Mazer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lawrence A Leiter
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hwee Teoh
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David A Hess
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Molecular Medicine Research Labs, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Subodh Verma
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Kaur G, Mason RP, Steg PG, Bhatt DL. Omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular event lowering. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2024; 31:1005-1014. [PMID: 38169319 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the main target for therapeutics aimed at reducing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and downstream cardiovascular (CV) events. However, multiple studies have demonstrated that high-risk patient populations harbour residual risk despite effective LDL-C lowering. While data support the causal relationship between triglycerides and ASCVD risk, triglyceride-lowering therapies such as omega-3 fatty acids have shown mixed results in CV outcomes trials. Notably, icosapent ethyl, a purified formulation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has garnered compelling evidence in lowering residual CV risk in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia and treated with statins. In this review, we summarize studies that have investigated omega-3-fatty acids for CV event lowering and discuss the clinical implementation of these agents based on trial data and guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurleen Kaur
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R Preston Mason
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Elucida Research LLC, Beverly, MA, USA
| | - Ph Gabriel Steg
- Paris Cité University, Public Hospitals of Paris (AP-HP), Bichat Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Szarek M, Bhatt DL, Miller M, Brinton EA, Jacobson TA, Tardif JC, Ballantyne CM, Mason RP, Ketchum SB, Lira Pineda A, Doyle RT, Steg PG. Lipoprotein(a) Blood Levels and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction With Icosapent Ethyl. J Am Coll Cardiol 2024; 83:1529-1539. [PMID: 38530686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) concentrations are associated with increased cardiovascular event risk even in the presence of well-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but few treatments are documented to reduce this residual risk. OBJECTIVES The aim of this post hoc analysis of REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial) was to explore the cardiovascular benefit of icosapent ethyl (IPE) across a range of Lp(a) levels. METHODS A total of 8,179 participants receiving statin therapy with established cardiovascular disease or age ≥50 years with diabetes and ≥1 additional risk factor, fasting triglyceride 1.69 to 5.63 mmol/L, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.06 to 2.59 mmol/L were randomized to receive 2 g twice daily of IPE or matching placebo. Relationships between continuous baseline Lp(a) mass concentration and risk for first and total (first and subsequent) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were analyzed, along with the effects of IPE on first MACE among those with Lp(a) concentrations ≥50 or <50 mg/dL. RESULTS Among 7,026 participants (86% of those randomized) with baseline Lp(a) assessments, the median concentration was 11.6 mg/dL (Q1-Q3: 5.0-37.4 mg/dL). Lp(a) had significant relationships with first and total MACE (P < 0.0001), while event reductions with IPE did not vary across the range of Lp(a) (interaction P > 0.10). IPE significantly reduced first MACE in subgroups with concentrations ≥50 and <50 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS Baseline Lp(a) concentration was prognostic for MACE among participants with elevated triglyceride levels receiving statin therapy. Importantly, IPE consistently reduced MACE across a range of Lp(a) levels, including among those with clinically relevant elevations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Szarek
- Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA; CPC Clinical Research, Aurora, Colorado, USA; State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael Miller
- Department of Medicine, Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Terry A Jacobson
- Lipid Clinic and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Program, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jean-Claude Tardif
- Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christie M Ballantyne
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ph Gabriel Steg
- Université Paris-Cité, INSERM-UMR1148, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, French Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials, and Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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4
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Sayah N, Bhatt DL, Miller M, Brinton EA, Jacobson TA, Ketchum SB, Jiao L, Pineda AL, Doyle RT, Tardif JC, Ballantyne CM, Steg PG. Icosapent ethyl following acute coronary syndrome: the REDUCE-IT trial. Eur Heart J 2024; 45:1173-1176. [PMID: 38252107 PMCID: PMC10984562 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Neila Sayah
- Department of Cardiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, 46 Rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Miller
- Department of Medicine, Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Terry A Jacobson
- Lipid Clinic and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Program, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Lixia Jiao
- Amarin Pharma, Inc. (Amarin), Bridgewater, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Jean Claude Tardif
- Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christie M Ballantyne
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ph Gabriel Steg
- Department of Cardiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, 46 Rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France
- FACT (French Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM Unité 1148, Université Paris-Cité, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
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Sherratt SCR, Mason RP, Libby P, Steg PG, Bhatt DL. Do patients benefit from omega-3 fatty acids? Cardiovasc Res 2024; 119:2884-2901. [PMID: 38252923 PMCID: PMC10874279 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs) possess beneficial properties for cardiovascular (CV) health and elevated O3FA levels are associated with lower incident risk for CV disease (CVD.) Yet, treatment of at-risk patients with various O3FA formulations has produced disparate results in large, well-controlled and well-conducted clinical trials. Prescription formulations and fish oil supplements containing low-dose mixtures of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have routinely failed to prevent CV events in primary and secondary prevention settings when added to contemporary care, as shown most recently in the STRENGTH and OMEMI trials. However, as observed in JELIS, REDUCE-IT, and RESPECT-EPA, EPA-only formulations significantly reduce CVD events in high-risk patients. The CV mechanism of action of EPA, while certainly multifaceted, does not depend solely on reductions of circulating lipids, including triglycerides (TG) and LDL, and event reduction appears related to achieved EPA levels suggesting that the particular chemical and biological properties of EPA, as compared to DHA and other O3FAs, may contribute to its distinct clinical efficacy. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown different effects of EPA compared with DHA alone or EPA/DHA combination treatments, on atherosclerotic plaque morphology, LDL and membrane oxidation, cholesterol distribution, membrane lipid dynamics, glucose homeostasis, endothelial function, and downstream lipid metabolite function. These findings indicate that prescription-grade, EPA-only formulations provide greater benefit than other O3FAs formulations tested. This review summarizes the clinical findings associated with various O3FA formulations, their efficacy in treating CV disease, and their underlying mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C R Sherratt
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
- Elucida Research LLC, Beverly, MA, USA
| | - R Preston Mason
- Elucida Research LLC, Beverly, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter Libby
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ph Gabriel Steg
- Université Paris-Cité, INSERM_UMR1148/LVTS, FACT (French Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials), Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, NewYork 10029-5674, NY, USA
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Sabbour H, Bhatt DL, Elhenawi Y, Aljaberi A, Bennani L, Fiad T, Hasan K, Hashmani S, Hijazi RA, Khan Z, Shantouf R. A Practical Approach to the Management of Residual Cardiovascular Risk: United Arab Emirates Expert Consensus Panel on the Evidence for Icosapent Ethyl and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2024:10.1007/s10557-023-07519-z. [PMID: 38363478 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-023-07519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with hyperlipidemia treated with statins remain at a residual cardiovascular (CV) risk. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids hold the potential to mitigate the residual CV risk in statin-treated patients, with persistently elevated triglyceride (TG) levels. METHOD We reviewed the current evidence on the use of icosapent ethyl (IPE), an omega-3 fatty acid yielding a pure form of eicosapentaenoic acid. RESULTS REDUCE-IT reported a significant 25% reduction in CV events, including the need for coronary revascularization, the risk of fatal/nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, and CV death in patients on IPE, unseen with other omega-3 fatty acids treatments. IPE was effective in all patients regardless of baseline CV risk enhancers (TG levels, type-2 diabetes status, weight status, prior revascularization, or renal function). Adverse events (atrial fibrillation/flutter) related to IPE have occurred mostly in patients with prior atrial fibrillation. Yet, the net clinical benefit largely exceeded potential risks. The combination with other omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular DHA, eliminated the effect of EPA alone, as reported in the STRENGTH and OMEMI trials. Adding IPE to statin treatment seems to be cost-effective, especially in the context of secondary prevention of CVD, decreasing CV event frequency and subsequently the use of healthcare resources. CONCLUSION Importantly, IPE has been endorsed by 20 international medical societies as a statin add-on treatment in patients with dyslipidemia and high CV risk. Robust medical evidence supports IPE as a pillar in the management of dyslipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Sabbour
- Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, RI USA, Mediclinic Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yaser Elhenawi
- Heart And Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Asma Aljaberi
- Endocrine Division, Department of Medicine, Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Layal Bennani
- Medical Affairs, Biologix, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tarek Fiad
- Centre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khwaja Hasan
- Packer Hospital Guthrie, Sayre, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shahrukh Hashmani
- Heart And Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rabih A Hijazi
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zafar Khan
- Department of Cardiology, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ronney Shantouf
- Heart And Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Toth PP, Ferrières J, Waters M, Mortensen MB, Lan NSR, Wong ND. Global eligibility and cost effectiveness of icosapent ethyl in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1220017. [PMID: 37719970 PMCID: PMC10501481 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1220017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Icosapent ethyl (IPE) is a purified eicosapentaenoic acid-only omega-3 fatty acid that significantly reduced cardiovascular (CV) events in patients receiving statins with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) and those with diabetes and additional risk factors in the pivotal REDUCE-IT trial. Since the publication of REDUCE-IT, there has been global interest in determining IPE eligibility in different patient populations, the proportion of patients who may benefit from IPE, and cost effectiveness of IPE in primary and secondary prevention settings. The aim of this review is to summarize information from eligibility and cost effectiveness studies of IPE to date. A total of sixteen studies were reviewed, involving 2,068,111 patients in the primary or secondary prevention settings worldwide. Up to forty-five percent of patients were eligible for IPE, depending on the selection criteria used (ie, REDUCE-IT criteria, US Food and Drug Administration label, Health Canada label, practice guidelines) and the population studied. Overall, eight cost-effectiveness studies across the United States, Canada, Germany, Israel, and Australia were included in this review and findings indicated that IPE is particularly cost effective in patients with established CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter P. Toth
- CGH Medical Center, Sterling, IL, United States
- Cicarrone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jean Ferrières
- Department of Cardiology, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse University School of Medicine, Toulouse, France
| | - Max Waters
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | | | - Nick S. R. Lan
- Department of Cardiology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, WA, Australia
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Nathan D. Wong
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
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Bae JH, Lim H, Lim S. The Potential Cardiometabolic Effects of Long-Chain ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Recent Updates and Controversies. Adv Nutr 2023; 14:612-628. [PMID: 37031750 PMCID: PMC10334139 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Various health-related effects of long-chain (LC) ω-3 PUFAs, EPA, and DHA have been suggested. LC ω-3 PUFAs reduce TG concentrations and have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiplatelet, and vascular protective effects. Controversially, they might help in restoring glucose homeostasis via the gut microbiota. However, previous studies have not shown the clear benefits of LC ω-3 PUFAs for CVDs. REDUCE-IT and STRENGTH-representative randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined whether LC ω-3 PUFAs would prevent major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE)-showed conflicting results with differences in the types, doses, or comparators of LC ω-3 PUFAs and study populations. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis using major RCTs to address this inconsistency and assess the clinical and biological effects of LC ω-3 PUFAs. We included RCTs that involved ≥500 participants with ≥1 y follow-up. Of 17 studies involving 143,410 people, LC ω-3 PUFA supplementation showed beneficial effects on CV death (RR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.99; P = 0.029) and fatal or nonfatal MI (RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.95; P = 0.010). RCTs on EPA alone showed better results for 3-point MACE, CV death, and fatal or nonfatal MI. However, the benefits were not found for fatal or nonfatal stroke, all-cause mortality, and hospitalization for heart failure. Of note, studies of both the EPA/DHA combination and EPA alone showed a significant increase in risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation. Thus, well-designed studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the distinct effects of EPA compared with DHA on cardiometabolic diseases. This review discusses the potential benefits and safety of LC ω-3 PUFAs from a cardiometabolic perspective focusing on recent updates and controversies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyun Bae
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Lim
- Department of Medical Nutrition, Research Institute of Medical Nutrition, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Lim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
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Huston J, Schaffner H, Cox A, Sperry A, Mcgee S, Lor P, Langley L, Skrable B, Ashchi M, Bisharat M, Gore A, Jones T, Sutton D, Sheikh-Ali M, Berner J, Goldfaden R. A Critical Review of Icosapent Ethyl in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2023:10.1007/s40256-023-00583-8. [PMID: 37188993 PMCID: PMC10184960 DOI: 10.1007/s40256-023-00583-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Icosapent ethyl (IPE) was the first fish oil product the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in adults. IPE is an esterified version of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and acts as a prodrug in the body to exert its effects. IPE affects the body primarily through triglyceride (TG) reduction and was initially indicated for hypertriglyceridemia in addition to statin therapy or for patients with statin intolerances. Various studies have investigated this agent, and multiple subanalyses have been conducted since the FDA approval. These subanalyses have assessed factors such as sex, statin therapy, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (hs-CRP), and various inflammatory biomarkers in groups of patients taking IPE. This article aims to provide a critical review of the clinical data available regarding cardiovascular benefits of IPE in patients with ASCVD and its value as a treatment option for patients with elevated TG levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Huston
- College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA
| | | | - Alyssa Cox
- College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA
| | | | - Shelby Mcgee
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Payeng Lor
- School of Pharmacy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Logan Langley
- College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA
| | | | - Majdi Ashchi
- Ashchi Heart and Vascular Center, Jacksonville, USA
| | | | | | | | - David Sutton
- Northeast Florida Endocrine and Diabetes Associates, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Mae Sheikh-Ali
- Northeast Florida Endocrine and Diabetes Associates, Jacksonville, USA
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Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Disease: the Debate Continues. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2023; 25:1-17. [PMID: 36580204 PMCID: PMC9834373 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-022-01075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The omega-3 fatty acids (n3-FAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have recently undergone testing for their ability to reduce residual cardiovascular (CV) risk among statin-treated subjects. The outcome trials have yielded highly inconsistent results, perhaps attributable to variations in dosage, formulation, and composition. In particular, CV trials using icosapent ethyl (IPE), a highly purified ethyl ester of EPA, reproducibly reduced CV events and progression of atherosclerosis compared with mixed EPA/DHA treatments. This review summarizes the mechanistic evidence for differences among n3-FAs on the development and manifestations of atherothrombotic disease. RECENT FINDINGS Large randomized clinical trials with n3-FAs have produced discordant outcomes despite similar patient profiles, doses, and triglyceride (TG)-lowering effects. A large, randomized trial with IPE, a prescription EPA only formulation, showed robust reduction in CV events in statin treated patients in a manner proportional to achieved blood EPA concentrations. Multiple trials using mixed EPA/DHA formulations have not shown such benefits, despite similar TG lowering. These inconsistencies have inspired investigations into mechanistic differences among n3-FAs, as EPA and DHA have distinct membrane interactions, metabolic products, effects on cholesterol efflux, antioxidant properties, and tissue distribution. EPA maintains normal membrane cholesterol distribution, enhances endothelial function, and in combination with statins improves features implicated in plaque stability and reduces lipid content of plaques. Insights into reductions in residual CV risk have emerged from clinical trials using different formulations of n3-FAs. Among high-risk patients on contemporary care, mixed n3-FA formulations showed no reduction in CV events. The distinct benefits of IPE in multiple trials may arise from pleiotropic actions that correlate with on-treatment EPA levels beyond TG-lowering. These effects include altered platelet function, inflammation, cholesterol distribution, and endothelial dysfunction. Elucidating such mechanisms of vascular protection for EPA may lead to new interventions for atherosclerosis, a disease that continues to expand worldwide.
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Miller M, Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Brinton EA, Jacobson TA, Jiao L, Tardif JC, Ballantyne CM, Budoff M, Mason RP. Potential effects of icosapent ethyl on cardiovascular outcomes in cigarette smokers: REDUCE-IT smoking. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL. CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY 2022; 9:129-137. [PMID: 35953437 PMCID: PMC9892866 DOI: 10.1093/ehjcvp/pvac045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Cigarette smoking is among the most well-established risk factors for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We sought to determine whether icosapent ethyl (IPE), a highly purified form of eicosapentaenoic acid with antiatherothrombotic properties, may reduce the excessive risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to smoking. METHODS AND RESULTS Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl Trial (REDUCE-IT) was a multinational, double-blind trial that randomized 8179 statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides and CV risk to IPE or placebo, with a median follow-up period of 4.9 years. Icosapent ethyl reduced the primary composite endpoint [CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina] by 25% (P < 0.0001). In the current analyses, the effect of IPE was evaluated in REDUCE-IT using post hoc analyses based on smoking history. Groups were classified as current smokers (n = 1241), former smokers (n = 3672), and never smokers (n = 3264). Compared with placebo, IPE use in combined current and former smokers (n = 4913) was associated with significant reductions in time to the primary composite endpoint {hazard ratio: 0.77 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68-0.87]; P < 0.0001} and in total events [rate ratio: 0.71 (95% CI: 0.61-0.82); P < 0.0001]. These benefits remained significant when subdivided into current and former smokers (P = 0.04, P = 0.005), with reductions in the key secondary composite endpoint (P < 0.0001) and in the individual components of CV death or non-fatal MI (P = 0.04, P = 0.01) and fatal or non-fatal MI (P = 0.009, P = 0.01), respectively. Benefits were consistent and significant in non-smokers as well. Overall, there were similar estimated rates of first occurrences of primary CVD endpoints in current smokers (23.8%) and former smokers (23.0%) assigned to IPE compared with never smokers on placebo (25.7%). CONCLUSION In REDUCE-IT, IPE treatment was associated with a reduced risk of CV events in current and former smokers to levels observed in never smokers. While smoking cessation should always be recommended, these data raise the possibility that IPE treatment may attenuate CV hazards attributable to smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ph Gabriel Steg
- Department of Medicine, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eliot A Brinton
- Department of Medicine, Utah Lipid Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Terry A Jacobson
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lixia Jiao
- Amarin Pharma, Inc., Bridgewater, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew Budoff
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - R Preston Mason
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Sherratt SCR, Libby P, Bhatt DL, Mason RP. A biological rationale for the disparate effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease outcomes. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2022; 182:102450. [PMID: 35690002 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2022.102450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The omega-3 fatty acids (n3-FAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rapidly incorporate into cell membranes where they modulate signal transduction pathways, lipid raft formation, and cholesterol distribution. Membrane n3-FAs also form specialized pro-resolving mediators and other intracellular oxylipins that modulate inflammatory pathways, including T-cell differentiation and gene expression. Cardiovascular (CV) trials have shown that EPA, administered as icosapent ethyl (IPE), reduces composite CV events, along with plaque volume, in statin-treated, high-risk patients. Mixed EPA/DHA regimens have not shown these benefits, perhaps as the result of differences in formulation, dosage, or potential counter-regulatory actions of DHA. Indeed, EPA and DHA have distinct, tissue-specific effects on membrane structural organization and cell function. This review summarizes: (1) results of clinical outcome and imaging trials using n3-FA formulations; (2) membrane interactions of n3-FAs; (3) effects of n3-FAs on membrane oxidative stress and cholesterol crystalline domain formation during hyperglycemia; (4) n3-FA effects on endothelial function; (5) role of n3-FA-generated metabolites in inflammation; and (6) ongoing and future clinical investigations exploring treatment targets for n3-FAs, including COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C R Sherratt
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03823, USA; Elucida Research LLC, Beverly, MA 01915-0091, USA
| | - Peter Libby
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115-6110, USA
| | - Deepak L Bhatt
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115-6110, USA
| | - R Preston Mason
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115-6110, USA; Elucida Research LLC, Beverly, MA 01915-0091, USA.
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Benefits of Icosapent Ethyl for Enhancing Residual Cardiovascular Risk Reduction A Review of Key Findings from REDUCE-IT. J Clin Lipidol 2022; 16:389-402. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2022.05.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Toth PP, Chapman MJ, Parhofer KG, Nelson JR. Differentiating EPA from EPA/DHA in cardiovascular risk reduction. AMERICAN HEART JOURNAL PLUS : CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 17:100148. [PMID: 38559888 PMCID: PMC10978325 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.2022.100148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
None of the clinical trials of omega-3 fatty acids using combinations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were able to show any effect on cardiovascular outcomes, despite reductions in triglyceride levels. In contrast, the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT), which employed high-dose (4 g) purified EPA, demonstrated a 25% reduction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-related events compared with placebo (hazard ratio 0.75; 95% confidence interval 0.68-0.83; P < 0.001). Moreover, REDUCE-IT is the first clinical trial using a lipid-lowering agent as adjuvant therapy to a statin to show a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Significant reductions in stroke, need for revascularization, and myocardial infarction were also observed. The pharmacology of EPA is distinct from that of DHA, with a differential effect on membrane structure, lipoprotein oxidation, and the production of downstream metabolites that promote the resolution of inflammation. Attained plasma levels of EPA may be an important determinant of efficacy, with a substudy of REDUCE-IT suggesting that the threshold for clinical benefit of EPA is approximately 100 μg/mL, a level achieved in only a minority of patients in other studies. No similar clinical trials of DHA monotherapy have been conducted, so no such threshold has been established. The results of the REDUCE-IT and the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) together affirm the efficacy of EPA therapy for cardiovascular disease risk reduction in certain patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter P. Toth
- CGH Medical Center, Sterling, IL, USA
- Cicarrone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Klaus G. Parhofer
- Medical Clinic IV – Grosshadern Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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