Cholesterol goal achievement and lipid-lowering therapy in patients with stable or acute coronary heart disease in Singapore: results from the Dyslipidemia International Study II

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease landscape in Singapore

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for over one-third of all deaths in Singapore. An analysis of age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for CVD in Singapore revealed a deceleration in the initial rapid decline in ASMR. A decrease in smoking prevalence may have contributed to the initial rapid decline in ASMR. Furthermore, other major risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated low-density lipoprotein levels, and obesity, are steadily rising. Singapore's CVD economic burden is estimated to be 8.1 billion USD (11.5 billion SGD). The burden of CVD can only be reduced using individual and population-based approaches. Prevention programs must also be developed based on an understanding of risk trends. Therefore, this article attempts to capture the burden of CVD, trends in risk factor control, preventive care, disparities, and current unmet needs, particularly in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease management in Singapore.

Treatment of dyslipidemia in acute coronary syndrome

Despite numerous improvements in the management of acute coronary syndrome(ACS), it is a major cause of mortality in India. Lipids play a critical role in pathogenesis of ACS and reduction of lipid parameters plays a pivotal role in secondary prevention. High total cholesterol and high low-density lipoprotein(LDL) are the major lipid abnormalities globally as well as in Indians. Among all the lipid parameters, LDL is the primary target of lipid-lowering therapies across the globe. High-dose statins, ezetimibe, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, and bempedoic acid are recommended therapies for LDL reduction in ACS patients. Statins have pleiotropic effects on the modulation of thrombogenesis, endothelial dysfunction, and myocardial protection. Multiple randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses have shown that the use of high-dose statin has significant benefits in ACS. LDL reduction goal is < 55 mg/dl or at least 50 % reduction from the baseline regardless of age or gender. Non-fasting LDL should be measured soon after the ACS as it varies minimally with food intake. The first line of therapy after ACS is to advise lifestyle modifications, combination therapy including high-dose statin with ezetimibe, and evaluation after 4-6 weeks of the index event. If the goal is not achieved then PCSK 9 inhibitors or Bempedoic acid should be used in combination with statins and ezetimibe to reduce recurrent ischaemic events. Despite the proven effect of these lipid-lowering therapies, undertreatment is still a big hurdle across the globe. Prohibitive costs, adverse effects, medication non-adherence, variation in health practice in different countries, and clinical inertia to prescribe this medication by physicians are the main reasons for the undertreatment.

Exploring barriers and facilitators of primary care physicians towards optimising statin therapy in patients with hyperlipidaemia in the very high-risk group: a qualitative study in Singapore

OBJECTIVES

To explore the perspectives of primary care physicians with regard to the barriers and facilitators towards optimising statin therapy in patients with hyperlipidaemia in the very high-risk group.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive study.

SETTING

Four polyclinics in a public primary care institution in Singapore.

PARTICIPANTS

Seven men and five women working as primary care physicians were recruited for in-depth interviews.

RESULTS

The major barriers to statin optimisation identified were patients' lack of knowledge and awareness, patients' fear of side effects, negative external influences on patients, poor doctor-patient relationship, time constraint during consultations, physicians' unfamiliarity with guidelines, low health literacy among the local population and lack of strong national policy. The major facilitators identified were patient education, providing continuity of care, improving electronic medical record systems' capabilities, physician education and public education.

CONCLUSION

We identified several important barriers and facilitators of statin therapy optimisation in this study. This information offers insights into the development of a multipronged approach to address barriers across different levels with the aim of optimising statin use, reducing cardiovascular events and improving patient outcomes.

A Systematic Review of Lipid Management in Secondary Prevention and Comparison of International Lipid Management Pathways

Acute coronary syndrome remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite significant improvements in its prevention and management. Lipid management and other risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking and sedentary lifestyle stratification is the key to minimising this risk. Lipid management is an important part of secondary prevention and patients are historically undertreated after post-acute coronary syndrome. We performed a narrative review on observational studies on lipid management pathways post ACS on PubMed, Google Scholar, Journal Storage and ScienceDirect and excluded case reports, case series and randomized controlled trials. Our review showed that most patients following acute coronary syndrome receive suboptimal treatment for hypercholesterolemia. The role of statin in reducing future cardiac events risk is undisputable, however, statin intolerance remains a major concern. There is substantial variation in the management of lipids in patients following an acute cardiac event and patients were followed up in primary care in some countries and secondary care in others. The mortality risk is significantly high in patients with second or recurrent cardiac events and future cardiac events are associated with higher morbidity and mortality risk. There is significant variation in lipid management pathways in patients who suffer from cardiac events across the globe and lipid therapy optimization remains suboptimal in these patients, putting them at future risk of cardiovascular events. It is therefore imperative to optimally manage dyslipidemia in these patients in order to minimize the risk of subsequent cardiac events. Cardiac rehabilitation programs might be a way forward to incorporate lipid management for patients discharged from the hospital after having acute coronary events for lipid therapy optimization.

Can we achieve ESC 2019 guidelines LDL-cholesterol target in Tunisia?

INTRODUCTION

Dyslipidemias are a major cardiovascular risk factor. The control of LDLc level is one of the major targets in patients admitted for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

AIM

To study the lipid profile after ACS and to assess the degree of applicability of the European guidelines in Tunisia.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multicentric, non-randomized study involving consecutive patients admitted for ACS between October 2019 and March 2020; for whom a lipid assessment was carried out on admission and checked after four to six weeks under high dose of statin.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were included. The mean age of our population was 58.7 years and the sex ratio was 5.7. Obesity was present in 15%, Diabetes in 35%, hypertension in 34% and smoking in 61% of cases. Our patients presented with ST segment elevation myocardial infraction in 51%. The mean total plasma LDLc level was 1.04±0.26g/L. A reduction in LDLc levels of more than 50% was noted in 33% of patients. A value less than 0.55g/L of LDLc was noted in 46% of patients. The therapeutic target (LDLc.

Effects of metoprolol on serum inflammatory factors and myocardial ischemia in rats modeled with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to observe the effects of metoprolol on serum inflammatory factors, cardiac function and oxidative stress response in rats modeled with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

Thirty clean SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomized into a control group (CG), treatment group (TG) and model group (MG), with 10 in each group. Rats in the CG were fed regular chow, while those in the MG and TG were fed a high-fat diet. After successful CHD modeling, those in the TG were given metoprolol every day, 10 mg/kg once a day. The effects of cardiac function indexes, myocardial injury indexes, blood lipids, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indexes, myocardial apoptosis-related factors and apoptosis rate were observed and recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Compared with the CG, the cardiac function indexes of the MG decreased significantly, while the myocardial injury indexes increased markedly. After metoprolol treatment, the cardiac function and myocardial injury of the TG were significantly improved. Also, the expression of serum lipid indexes in the MG increased obviously, and the hyperlipidemia in the TG was improved after metoprolol treatment. Besides, the expression of inflammatory factors in serum of the MG increased remarkably, and metoprolol could reduce the inflammatory state in rats. Furthermore, MDA in serum of the MG increased, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px decreased; revealing that metoprolol can improve oxidative stress in rats. Finally, the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes in the MG increased dramatically. Metoprolol treatment can reduce the apoptosis rate and improve the expression of apoptosis related proteins.

CONCLUSION

Metoprolol reduces the degree of myocardial injury, inhibits inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress in vivo, reduces myocardial apoptosis and improves myocardial ischemia in CHD modeled rats.