Long-term statin persistence is poor among high-risk patients with dyslipidemia: a real-world administrative claims analysis

Retrospective real-world analysis of adherence and persistence to lipid-lowering therapy in Germany

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in Germany. Cardiovascular risk can be mitigated with long-term lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) that reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although effective, risk mitigation is hindered by poor persistence and adherence.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate real-world persistence and adherence to LLTs through 36 months post-initiation.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients with dyslipidemia who were newly prescribed LLTs between July and December 2017, using anonymized prescription data from the Insight Health™ Patient Insight Tool, and followed up until March 2021. Persistence and adherence to the therapies were stratified by age and sex. The proportion of days covered (PDC) was used to measure adherence.

RESULTS

Patients with dyslipidemia and newly prescribed statins (n = 865,732), ezetimibe (n = 34,490), or anti-proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (anti-PCSK9 mAbs; n = 1940) were included. Persistence to LLTs declined gradually across all treatment subgroups and was lower in women than men. Adherence, calculated as the mean PDC at the end of the analysis period (July 2017‒March 2021) was 0.84, 0.92, and 0.93 for statins, ezetimibe, and anti-PCSK9 mAbs, respectively. Among patients who discontinued treatment, mean treatment duration was 265, 255, and 387 days for statins, ezetimibe, and anti-PCSK9 mAbs, respectively. Only ~ 10% of patients persisted between 201 and 300 days. By Day 300, 71% of patients on statins had discontinued treatment. At 36 months, overall persistence rates were lowest with statins (20.6%), followed by ezetimibe (22.3%) and anti-PCSK9 mAbs (50.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

High non-persistence rates were observed across all LLT regimens analyzed, with the lowest persistence rates observed with statins.

An "Inclisiran First" Strategy vs Usual Care in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

BACKGROUND

Most patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease fail to achieve guideline-directed low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Twice-yearly inclisiran lowers LDL-C by ∼50% when added to statins.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an "inclisiran first" implementation strategy (adding inclisiran immediately upon failure to reach LDL-C <70 mg/dL despite receiving maximally tolerated statins) vs representative usual care in U.S. patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

VICTORION-INITIATE, a prospective, pragmatically designed trial, randomized patients 1:1 to inclisiran (284 mg at days 0, 90, and 270) plus usual care (lipid management at treating physician's discretion) vs usual care alone. Primary endpoints were percentage change in LDL-C from baseline and statin discontinuation rates.

RESULTS

We randomized 450 patients (30.9% women, 12.4% Black, 15.3% Hispanic); mean baseline LDL-C was 97.4 mg/dL. The "inclisiran first" strategy led to significantly greater reductions in LDL-C from baseline to day 330 vs usual care (60.0% vs 7.0%; P < 0.001). Statin discontinuation rates with "inclisiran first" (6.0%) were noninferior vs usual care (16.7%). More "inclisiran first" patients achieved LDL-C goals vs usual care (<70 mg/dL: 81.8% vs 22.2%; <55 mg/dL: 71.6% vs 8.9%; P < 0.001). Treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) and serious TEAE rates compared similarly between treatment strategies (62.8% vs 53.7% and 11.5% vs 13.4%, respectively). Injection-site TEAEs and TEAEs causing treatment withdrawal occurred more commonly with "inclisiran first" than usual care (10.3% vs 0.0% and 2.6% vs 0.0%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

An "inclisiran first" implementation strategy led to greater LDL-C lowering compared with usual care without discouraging statin use or raising new safety concerns. (A Randomized, Multicenter, Open-label Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of an "Inclisiran First" Implementation Strategy to Usual Care on LDL Cholesterol [LDL-C] in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Elevated LDL-C [≥70 mg/dL] Despite Receiving Maximally Tolerated Statin Therapy [VICTORION-INITIATE]; NCT04929249).

Whether and Why Do We Need a Vaccine Against Atherosclerosis? Can We Expect It Anytime Soon?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of premature death. Lipid disorders, particularly elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), contribute significantly to ASCVD. The risk of developing ASCVD is influenced by the duration of exposure to elevated LDL-C concentrations (cholesterol-years concept). Implementing lipid-lowering treatments based on the principles of "the earlier the better," "the lower the better," and "the longer the better" has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk and significantly extend lifespan. Despite the availability of numerous lipid-lowering drugs, achieving satisfactory control of lipid disorders remains very challenging. Therefore, there is a need for novel approaches to improve treatment adherence.

RECENT FINDINGS

One promising solution under investigation is the development of an anti-PCSK9 vaccine, which could be administered annually to provide long-term control over LDL-C concentrations. Experimental studies and the sole clinical trial conducted thus far have demonstrated that the anti-PCSK9 vaccine induces a durable immune response associated with lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Furthermore, it has exhibited good tolerability and a satisfactory safety profile. However, we still need data from phase 2, 3, and cardiovascular outcome trial to confirm its safety and efficacy and add value in the armamentarium of available and perspective lipid-lowering drugs. This article highlights the significance of developing an anti-PCSK9 vaccine and provides an overview of the current knowledge on various anti-PCSK9 vaccines.

Long-Term Efficacy and Tolerability of PCSK9 Targeted Therapy: A Review of the Literature

Increased plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are causally associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and statins that lower LDL-C have been the cornerstone of ASCVD prevention for decades. However, guideline-recommended LDL-C targets are not achieved in about 60% of statin users. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9)-targeted therapy effectively lowers LDL-C levels and has been shown to reduce ASCVD risk. A growing body of scientific and clinical evidence shows that PCSK9-targeted therapy offers an excellent safety and tolerability profile with a low incidence of side effects in the short term. In this review, we present and discuss the current clinical and scientific evidence pertaining to the long-term efficacy and tolerability of PCSK9-targeted therapy.

Trends of Lipid Concentrations, Awareness, Evaluation, and Treatment in Severe Dyslipidemia in US Adults

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the contemporary trends of lipid concentrations, cholesterol evaluation, hypercholesterolemia awareness, and statin use among individuals with severe dyslipidemia (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] level ≥190 mg/dL) between 2011 and 2020.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This serial cross-sectional analysis included nonpregnant adults ≥20 years of age from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2011 and 2020. Age-adjusted weighted trends of LDL-C, triglycerides, cholesterol evaluation in the past 5 years, hypercholesterolemia awareness, and documented statin use among individuals with severe dyslipidemia were estimated.

RESULTS

Among 24,722 participants included, the prevalence of severe dyslipidemia was 5.4% (SE: 0.2%) which was stable across the study period (Ptrend=.78). Among individuals with severe dyslipidemia (mean age: 55.3 [SE: 0.7] years; 52.2% females; 68.8% non-Hispanic White), LDL-C (224.3 [SE: 4.2] mg/dL in 2011-2012 to 224.2 [SE: 4.6] mg/dL in 2017-2020; Ptrend =.83), and triglyceride (123.3 [SE: 1.1] mg/dL in 2011-2012 to 101.8 [SE: 1.1] mg/dL in 2017-2020; Ptrend=.13), levels remained stable from 2011 to 2020. The rates of cholesterol evaluation in the past 5 years (72.0% [SE: 5.7%] in 2011-2012 to 78.0% [SE: 4.8%] in 2017-2020; Ptrend=.91), hypercholesterolemia awareness (48.1% [SE: 5.5%] in 2011-2012 to 51.9% [SE: 5.8%] in 2017- 2020; Ptrend=.77), and documented statin use (34.7% [SE: 4.5%] in 2011-2012 to 33.4% [SE: 4.0%] in 2017-2020; Ptrend=.28) remained stagnant in individuals with severe dyslipidemia between 2011 and 2020.

CONCLUSION

Among individuals with severe dyslipidemia, cholesterol evaluation and hypercholesterolemia awareness rates were stable at ∼75% and ∼50% in the past decade. Only ∼34% of individuals with severe dyslipidemia took statins between 2011 and 2020, which likely contributed to the stable LDL-C levels noted across the study period. Further investigations into the determinants of statin use and adherence to statins are needed.

The role of adherence in patients with chronic diseases

In the long-term management of chronic diseases, adherence and persistence to prescribed medications are continuous challenges in order to obtain all the potential benefits of drug therapies. Suboptimal drug adherence and discontinuations of therapies remain the most frequent reasons why several diseases are poorly controlled in the population. One the main issue is that physicians are relatively limited in time and tools to detect patients with a poor adherence. The present review discusses present and future strategies that are now available or are being developed to detect and to support adherence in patients with chronic diseases and provides some simple clues to identify patients at high risk of discontinuation in the clinic.

Long-term treatment persistence and maintained reduction of LDL-cholesterol levels with evolocumab over 30 months: Results from the Spanish cohort of the European prospective HEYMANS study

AIMS

Limited data exist on low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level variability or long-term persistence with the monoclonal antibody evolocumab in routine clinical practice. HEYMANS (NCT02770131) is the first multi-country, multicenter, observational study of European patients initiating evolocumab as part of their routine clinical management, based on local reimbursement criteria (overall data recently published). The aim of this analysis is to describe clinical characteristics, baseline and changes in LDL-C levels, treatment patterns and persistence to evolocumab over 30 months in the Spanish cohort using data from the HEYMANS Registry.

METHODS

HEYMANS was a prospective study of adult patients (≥18 years) who received at least one dose of evolocumab. A total of 1951 patients were enrolled from 12 countries and were followed up for 30 months after evolocumab initiation. Data were collected for 6 months before evolocumab initiation and up to 30 months thereafter. The Spanish cohort included patients who started evolocumab in routine clinical practice from March 2016 to September 2019. Demographic and clinical characteristics, lipid-lowering therapies (LLT), and lipid levels were collected.

RESULTS

In total, 201 patients were included in the Spanish cohort. Median follow-up (Q1-Q3) was 30.0 (12-30) months. A total of 61.7% of patients were men and the mean (standard deviation) age was 59.5 (10.8) years. Most patients (68.7%) had experienced a prior cardiovascular event, 45.3% had coronary artery disease or stable angina, and 60.2% had a diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia. Overall, 57.7% of patients were receiving treatment with statins, most of them with high-intensity statins (85.3%); 45.8% of patients were intolerant to statins, and 26.4% of patients did not receive any LLT. At baseline, median (Q1-Q3) LDL-C levels were 151 (123-197) mg/dL. After 3 months of treatment, baseline LDL-C decreased by 66% to a median of 50 (30-83) mg/dL and these levels were maintained over time, with a median LDL-C of 55 (40-99) mg/dL at 30 months. At months 10-12 of treatment, LDL-C levels<55mg/dL were achieved by 56.3% of patients. LDL-C levels<70mg/dL were achieved by 70.1% of patients, and a lowering of LDL-C levels ≥50% was achieved by 76.8% of patients. The percentage of patients on evolocumab treatment was 95% at 12 months and 93% at 30 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Spanish cohort in routine clinical practice, evolocumab therapy provided a reduction in LDL-C levels consistent with that reported in previous clinical trials, which was sustained during 30 months of follow-up. Treatment with evolocumab was started at LDL-C levels 50% higher than those recommended by The Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis and the Therapeutic Positioning Report. The probability of achieving the 2019 ESC/EAS LDL-C goals would improve with combination therapy and also with a lower LDL-C threshold when starting evolocumab. Persistence to evolocumab remained high during follow-up, with a very low percentage of discontinuation (5% at 12 months; 7% at 30 months).

Bempedoic Acid can Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Combination with Statins or As Monotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

AIM

Bempedoic acid has shown noteworthy progress in the prevention and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in recent years. However, there has been a lack of high-quality evidence regarding the risk reduction of clinical events with bempedoic acid. Therefore, the aim of this article is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of bempedoic acid on the incidence of cardiovascular events.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials pertaining to bempedoic acid was carried out. We conducted a systematic search across the Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases to identify relevant studies published from inception to 23 April 2023. A total of four trials comparing the clinical benefit achieved with bempedoic acid versus placebo were included.

RESULTS

Our analysis comprised four trials that encompassed a total of 17,323 patients. In comparison to the placebo, bempedoic acid showed a significant reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [relative risk (RR), 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-0.94]. Additionally, bempedoic acid substantially lowered the occurrence of fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.89), hospitalization for unstable angina (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55-0.89), and coronary revascularization (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.92). There was also a similar reduction in MACE in patients on the maximally tolerated statin therapy.

CONCLUSION

Bempedoic acid may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events regardless of whether the patient is taking stains or not.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number CRD42023422932.

Cardiovascular events in patients treated with bempedoic acid vs. placebo: systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreases cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Bempedoic acid represents a promising novel lipid-modifying agent for patients who cannot reach guideline recommended LDL-C goals or statin-intolerant patients, but data on safety and cardiovascular outcomes are limited. We therefore aimed to systematically review randomized controlled trials investigating bempedoic acid vs. placebo in patients with hyperlipidaemia.

METHODS

A systematic search on the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase until 20 March 2023 was performed. All randomized trials comparing bempedoic acid (180 mg daily) with placebo in patients with an indication for lipid-lowering therapy were included. As a primary endpoint, we analysed three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) consisting of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), or non-fatal stroke. The analysis was carried out using the odds ratio (OR) as the outcome measure. Due to the expected heterogeneity across studies, a random-effects model was fitted to the data.

RESULTS

Out of 258 manuscripts, 10 manuscripts fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In total, these trials included 18 200 patients (9765 on bempedoic acid, 8435 on placebo). Bempedoic acid significantly reduced MACEs compared with placebo (OR 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76-0.96]; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%). The endpoint reduction was driven by a lower rate of non-fatal MI, whereas bempedoic acid had no significant effect on stroke (OR 0.86 [95% CI 0.69-1.08]; P = 0.20, I2 = 0%) and all-cause mortality (OR 1.19 [95% CI 0.73-1.93]; P = 0.49; I2 = 18%).

CONCLUSION

Bempedoic acid reduced non-fatal MI in patients with hyperlipidaemia, whereas it had no significant effect on stroke and all-cause mortality.

Effect of hypertriglyceridemia on left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with coronary heart disease in Jilin Province, China: a cross-sectional study

Aims

Using speckle tracking technology to investigate the effect of hypertriglyceridemia on the global longitudinal strain(GLS) of the left ventricle in patients with coronary heart disease in the early stage, and to explore the value of myocardial strain in early identification of cardiac dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease in the pre-heart failure stage.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 138 participants was conducted in Jilin Province, China. Basic clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data were obtained for all patients. Myocardial strain parameters were compared between the hypertriglyceridemia and normal triglyceride level groups and the effect of hypertriglyceridemia on early left ventricular global longitudinal strain impairment in coronary heart disease patients was evaluated.

Results

The overall longitudinal strain of the left ventricle was smaller in the hypertriglyceridemia group than in the normal triglyceride group. After the multivariate Logistic regression model adjusting for the influence of confounding factors, the results remained stable.

Conclusions

The risk of impairment of global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle in patients with coronary heart disease is positively correlated with triglyceride levels, and hypertriglyceridemia maybe an independent risk factor affecting early cardiac dysfunction in the pre-heart failure stage of patients with coronary heart disease.

Role of Statins after Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

The role of statins after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has not been well established in an Asian context. In this study, the use of statins and their association with long-term health outcomes were evaluated in patients undergoing EVAR using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Among the 8893 patients who underwent EVAR from 2008 to 2018, 3386 (38.1%) were on statins prior to the procedure. Patients using statins had a higher prevalence of comorbidities, such as hypertension (88.4% vs. 71.5%), diabetes mellitus (24.5% vs. 14.1%), and heart failure (21.6% vs. 13.1%), compared with non-users (all p < 0.001). After propensity score matching, statin use prior to EVAR was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.92, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.86, p = 0.002). Statin use following EVAR was associated with a lower risk of adverse events, but not significantly so. Patients on statins both preceding and following EVAR had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.91, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.87, p = 0.007), compared with statin non-users. Among Korean patients undergoing EVAR, the persistent use of statins prior to and after the procedure was associated with a lower risk of mortality, compared with non-statin users.

Significance of Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms and Its Impact on Patients Adherence and Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) are one of the most common side effects of statins. This study aimed to explore the significance of SAMS among statin users by comparing statin users with a control group. To achieve our aims, a propensity score matching the retrospective cohort study was conducted in a single center tertiary hospital. The statin muscle symptoms were assessed using the Proposed Statin Myalgia Index Score, whereas the patient's adherence to medications was evaluated using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8. We included 743 patients in our study; of them, 64.9% were on statin, whereas the rest were controls (35.1%). After propensity score matching, patients on statin had significantly higher rates of SAMS (5.0%) compared with control (1.6%) (AOR = 3.209; 95% CI: 1.020-10.091). However, there was no significant difference between statin users and controls in medications nonadherence ( P -value = 0.820). Our analysis among statins users revealed that moderate-intensity (2.671; 95% CI: 1.691-3.310) and high-intensity (3.552; 95% CI: 2.190-4.129) statin therapy was significantly associated with SAMS. In addition, autoimmune diseases were significantly associated with SAMS occurrence (AOR = 32.301; 95% CI: 1.785-584.374). Also, patients on PPIs had significantly less occurrence of SAMS (AOR = 0.145; 95% CI: 0.044-0.483), whereas patients on antiepileptic drugs had significantly higher SAMS occurrence (AOR = 72.337; 95% CI: 2.649-1975.201). Regarding MACE among statin users, there was no significant difference in the 1-year or 5-year MACE rate between statin users and controls. Our study suggests that SAMS are significant among statin users and must be addressed by health care providers to ensure that patients are still adherent to their medications and hence protected against cardiac events.

Excess Mortality for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and the Potential of Strict Implementation of Cardiovascular Risk Management: A Multifaceted Study Integrating Meta-Analysis, National Registry, and PHAST and TEDY Trial Data

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies imply a profound residual mortality risk following successful abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) repair. This excess mortality is generally attributed to increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was (1) to quantify the excess residual mortality for patients with AAA, (2) to evaluate the cross sectional level of cardiovascular risk management, and (3) to estimate the potential of optimised cardiovascular risk management to reduce the excess mortality in these patients.

METHODS

Excess mortality was estimated through a systematic review and meta-analysis, and through data from the Swedish National Health Registry. Cardiovascular risk profiles were individually assessed during eligibility screening of patients with AAA for two multicentre pharmaceutical AAA stabilisation trials. The potential of full implementation of cardiovascular risk management was estimated through the validated Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) risk scores algorithm.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis showed a similarly impaired survival for patients who received early repair (small AAA) or regular repair (≥ 55 mm), and a further impaired survival for patients under surveillance for a small AAA. Excess mortality was further quantified using Swedish population data. The data revealed a more than quadrupled and doubled five year mortality rate for women and men who had their AAA repaired, respectively. Evaluation of the level of risk management of 358 patients under surveillance in 16 Dutch hospitals showed that the majority of patients with AAA did not meet therapeutic targets set for risk management in high risk populations, and indicated a more pronounced prevention gap in women. Application of the SMART risk score algorithm predicted that optimal implementation of risk management guidelines would reduce the 10 year risk of major adverse cardiovascular events from 43% to 14%.

CONCLUSION

Independent of the rupture risk, AAA is associated with a worryingly compromised life expectancy with a particularly poor prognosis for women. Optimal implementation of cardiovascular risk prevention guidelines is predicted to profoundly reduce cardiovascular risk.

Long-term persistence with evolocumab treatment and sustained reductions in LDL-cholesterol levels over 30 months: Final results from the European observational HEYMANS study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Variability in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level control at a population level is associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Limited data exist on LDL-C level variability or long-term persistence with the monoclonal antibody evolocumab in routine clinical practice. Using data from the HEYMANS registry, this analysis aimed to assess evolocumab persistence and discontinuation over 30 months of evolocumab treatment and to evaluate at a population level the variability in LDL-C level reductions during the study period.

METHODS

HEYMANS was a prospective registry of adults initiating evolocumab in routine clinical practice in 12 European countries. Data were collected for up to and including 6 months before evolocumab initiation and up to 30 months after. Evolocumab discontinuation was analysed for two time periods: 0-12 months and 12-30 months.

RESULTS

In total, 1951 patients were included in the study. The median reduction in LDL-C levels was 58% within 3 months after evolocumab initiation; this reduction was maintained over 30 months. More than 90% of patients continued receiving evolocumab at 12 months and 30 months of follow-up. Of patients with an LDL-C level measurement during follow-up, approximately 85% achieved a ≥30% reduction from baseline at each follow-up visit and approximately 60% achieved a ≥50% reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Evolocumab therapy was associated with sustained LDL-C level reductions up to 30 months, and persistence with evolocumab remained high, both at 12 and 30 months. Expanding the use of monoclonal antibodies such as evolocumab could provide improvements in LDL-C level control at a population level in European clinical practice.

Association between statin use and risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis of 590,086 patients

Background

Statins have been reported to reduce the risk of gallstone disease. However, the impacts of different durations of statin use on gallstone disease have not been clarified. The aim of this study is toperform a systematic review with meta-analysis to update and to elucidate the association between statin use and the risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy.

Methods

Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched from the inception until August 2022 for relevant articles investigating the difference in the risk of gallstone disease between statin users and non-users (PROSPERO, ID: CRD42020182445). Meta-analyses were conducted using odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare the risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy between statin user and nonusers.

Results

Eight studies enrolling 590,086 patients were included. Overall, the use of statins was associated with a marginally significant lower risk of gallstone disease than nonusers (OR, 0.91; 95% CI [0.82-1.00]). Further subgroup analysis showed that short-term users, medium-term users, and long-term users were associated with a significantly higher risk (OR, 1.18; 95% CI [1.11-1.25]), comparable risk (OR, 0.93; 95% CI [0.83-1.04]), and significantly lower risk of gallstone diseases (OR, 0.78; 95% CI [0.68-0.90]) respectively, compared to nonusers.

Conclusions

Patients with medium-term or long-term use of statins without discontinuation are at a lower risk of gallstone disease or cholecystectomy.

There is urgent need to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk earlier, more intensively, and with greater precision: A review of current practice and recommendations for improved effectiveness

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is epidemic throughout the world and is etiologic for such acute cardiovascular events as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, unstable angina, and death. ASCVD also impacts risk for dementia, chronic kidney disease peripheral arterial disease and mobility, impaired sexual response, and a host of other visceral impairments that adversely impact the quality and rate of progression of aging. The relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and risk for ASCVD is one of the most highly established and investigated issues in the entirety of modern medicine. Elevated LDL-C is a necessary condition for atherogenesis induction. Basic scientific investigation, prospective longitudinal cohorts, and randomized clinical trials have all validated this association. Yet despite the enormous number of clinical trials which support the need for reducing the burden of atherogenic lipoprotein in blood, the percentage of high and very high-risk patients who achieve risk stratified LDL-C target reductions is low and has remained low for the last thirty years. Atherosclerosis is a preventable disease. As clinicians, the time has come for us to take primordial and primary prevention more serously. Despite a plethora of therapeutic approaches, the large majority of patients at risk for ASCVD are poorly or inadequately treated, leaving them vulnerable to disease progression, acute cardiovascular events, and poor aging due to loss of function in multiple visceral organs. Herein we discuss the need to greatly intensify efforts to reduce risk, decrease disease burden, and provide more comprehensive and earlier risk assessment to optimally prevent ASCVD and its complications. Evidence is presented to support that treatment should aim for far lower goals in cholesterol management, should take into account many more factors than commonly employed today and should begin significantly earlier in life.

Guidelines for the management of hyperlipidemia: How can clinicians effectively implement them?

Guidelines support lowering cholesterol to decrease atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk across the entire lifespan with intensive lifestyle intervention, as well as statin and non-statin pharmacotherapy for those at highest risk. Modest improvements in the initiation, use, and adherence to statin therapy in patients with ASCVD have occurred over the past decades. However, studies continue to document a less than desired implementation of guidelines highlighting a substantial and persistent treatment gap. The success of implementation depends on the consideration of a variety of barriers that exist throughout the healthcare delivery system. Further research is needed to comprehensively evaluate these barriers in order to develop appropriate and sustainable interventions to improve guideline implementation.

LDL-C target attainment in secondary prevention of ASCVD in the United States: barriers, consequences of nonachievement, and strategies to reach goals

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major causal risk factor for ASCVD. Current evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that lowering LDL-C reduces the risk of secondary cardiovascular events in patients with previous myocardial infarction or stroke. There is no lower limit for LDL-C: large, randomized studies and meta-analyses have found continuous benefit and no safety concerns in patients achieving LDL-C levels <25 mg/dL. As 'Time is plaque' in patients with ASCVD, early, sustained reductions in LDL-C are critical to slow or halt disease progression. However, despite use of lipid-lowering medications, <30% of patients with ASCVD achieve guideline-recommended reductions in LDL-C, resulting in a substantial societal burden of preventable cardiovascular events and early mortality. LDL-C goals are not met due to several factors: lipid-lowering therapy is not initiated and intensified as directed by clinical guidelines (clinical inertia); most patients do not adhere to prescribed medications; and high-risk patients are frequently denied access to add-on therapies by their insurance providers. Promoting patient and clinician education, multidisciplinary collaboration, and other interventions may help to overcome these barriers. Ultimately, achieving population-level guideline-recommended reductions in LDL-C will require a collaborative effort from patients, clinicians, relevant professional societies, drug manufacturers, and payers.

A microRNA Signature for the Diagnosis of Statins Intolerance

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Statins are the first-choice therapy for dislipidemias and are considered the cornerstone of ASCVD. Statin-associated muscle symptoms are the main reason for dropout of this treatment. There is an urgent need to identify new biomarkers with discriminative precision for diagnosing intolerance to statins (SI) in patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as evolutionarily conserved molecules that serve as reliable biomarkers and regulators of multiple cellular events in cardiovascular diseases. In the current study, we evaluated plasma miRNAs as potential biomarkers to discriminate between the SI vs. non-statin intolerant (NSI) population. It is a multicenter, prospective, case-control study. A total of 179 differentially expressed circulating miRNAs were screened in two cardiovascular risk patient cohorts (high and very high risk): (i) NSI (n = 10); (ii) SI (n = 10). Ten miRNAs were identified as being overexpressed in plasma and validated in the plasma of NSI (n = 45) and SI (n = 39). Let-7c-5p, let-7d-5p, let-7f-5p, miR-376a-3p and miR-376c-3p were overexpressed in the plasma of SI patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis supported the discriminative potential of the diagnosis. We propose a three-miRNA predictive fingerprint (let-7f, miR-376a-3p and miR-376c-3p) and several clinical variables (non-HDLc and years of dyslipidemia) for SI discrimination; this model achieves sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 83.67%, 88.57 and 89.10, respectively. In clinical practice, this set of miRNAs combined with clinical variables may discriminate between SI vs. NSI subjects. This multiparametric model may arise as a potential diagnostic biomarker with clinical value.

Estimated cardiovascular benefits of bempedoic acid in patients with established cardiovascular disease

Background and aims

Cardiovascular outcomes trials have demonstrated that lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduces the risk for future cardiovascular events. We assessed the potential cardiovascular benefits of bempedoic acid through a simulation study in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and elevated LDL-C.

Methods

The validated SMART prediction model was used to estimate the baseline 10-year risk of three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke) in patients with ASCVD who were enrolled in four Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled bempedoic acid studies. The predicted change in 10-year cardiovascular risk associated with bempedoic acid was estimated for each patient based on the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' model. Data were analyzed in two cohorts: Cohort 1 included mostly patients treated with moderate-high intensity statins, and Cohort 2 included patients who were intolerant of more than low-intensity statin.

Results

A total of 2884 patients were included in Cohort 1 and 226 in Cohort 2. Weighted average baseline 10-year cardiovascular event risk was 26.1% and 31.6% for Cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. The least squares mean percent difference (95% confidence interval (CI) of the predicted absolute change in 10-year cardiovascular event risk with bempedoic acid was -3.3% (-3.7% to -2.9%) for patients in Cohort 1 and -6.0% (-7.7% to -4.3%) for patients in Cohort 2 compared with placebo (p < 0.0001 for both).

Conclusions

Among patients with ASCVD who could potentially benefit from additional LDL-C lowering, our simulation predicted a lower absolute cardiovascular event risk after initiating bempedoic acid as compared with placebo.

Physicians' misperceived cardiovascular risk and therapeutic inertia as determinants of low LDL-cholesterol targets achievement in diabetes

Background

Greater efforts are needed to overcome the worldwide reported low achievement of LDL-c targets. This survey aimed to dissect whether and how the physician-based evaluation of patients with diabetes is associated with the achievement of LDL-c targets.

Methods

This cross-sectional self-reported survey interviewed physicians working in 67 outpatient services in Italy, collecting records on 2844 patients with diabetes. Each physician reported a median of 47 records (IQR 42–49) and, for each of them, the physician specified its perceived cardiovascular risk, LDL-c targets, and the suggested refinement in lipid-lowering-treatment (LLT). These physician-based evaluations were then compared to recommendations from EAS/EASD guidelines.

Results

Collected records were mostly from patients with type 2 diabetes (94%), at very-high (72%) or high-cardiovascular risk (27%). Physician-based assessments of cardiovascular risk and of LDL-c targets, as compared to guidelines recommendation, were misclassified in 34.7% of the records. The misperceived assessment was significantly higher among females and those on primary prevention and was associated with 67% lower odds of achieving guidelines-recommended LDL-c targets (OR 0.33, p < 0.0001). Peripheral artery disease, target organ damage and LLT-initiated by primary-care-physicians were all factors associated with therapeutic-inertia (i.e., lower than expected probability of receiving high-intensity LLT). Physician-suggested LLT refinement was inadequate in 24% of overall records and increased to 38% among subjects on primary prevention and with misclassified cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions

This survey highlights the need to improve the physicians’ misperceived cardiovascular risk and therapeutic inertia in patients with diabetes to successfully implement guidelines recommendations into everyday clinical practice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01495-8.

Contemporary Management of Dyslipidemia

The treatment of dyslipidemia continues to be a dynamic and controversial topic. Even the most appropriate therapeutic range for lipid levels-including that of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-remain actively debated. Furthermore, with ever-increasing options and available treatment modalities, the management of dyslipidemia has progressed in both depth and complexity. An understanding of appropriate lipid-lowering therapy remains an essential topic of review for practitioners across medical specialties. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of recent research developments and recommendations for patients with dyslipidemia as a means of better informing the clinical practice of lipid management. By utilizing a guideline-directed approach, we provide a reference point on optimal lipid-lowering therapies across the spectrum of dyslipidemia. Special attention is paid to long-term adherence to lipid-lowering therapies, and the benefits derived from instituting appropriate medications in a structured manner alongside monitoring. Novel therapies and their impact on lipid lowering are discussed in detail, as well as potential avenues for research going forward. The prevention of cardiovascular disease remains paramount, and this review provides a roadmap for instituting appropriate therapies in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Use of digital technology tools to characterize adherence to prescription-grade omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy in post-myocardial or hypertriglyceridemic patients: Primary results of the DIAPAsOn prospective observational study (Preprint)

Background

Maintaining sustained adherence to medication for optimal management of chronic noninfectious diseases, such as atherosclerotic vascular disease, is a well-documented therapeutic challenge.

Objective

The DIAPAsOn study was a 6-month, multicenter prospective observational study in the Russian Federation that examined adherence to a preparation of highly purified omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omacor) in 2167 adult patients with a history of recent myocardial infarction or endogenous hypertriglyceridemia.

Methods

A feature of DIAPAsOn was the use of a bespoke electronic patient engagement and data collection system to monitor adherence. Adherence was also monitored by enquiry at clinic visits. A full description of the study’s aims and methods has appeared in JMIR Research Protocols.

Results

The net average reduction from baseline in both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was approximately 1 mmol/L and the net average increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 0.2 (SD 0.53) mmol/L (P<.001 for all outcomes vs baseline). The mean triglyceride level was 3.0 (SD 1.3) mmol/L at visit 1, 2.0 (SD 0.9) mmol/L at visit 2, and 1.7 (SD 0.7) mmol/L at visit 3 (P<.001 for later visits vs visit 1). The percentage of patients with a triglyceride level <1.7 mmol/L rose from 13.1% (282/2151) at baseline to 54% (1028/1905) at the end of the study. Digital reporting of adherence was registered by 8.3% (180/2167) of patients; average scores indicted poor adherence. However, a clinic-based enquiry suggested high levels of adherence. Data on health-related quality of life accrued from digitally engaged patients identified improvements among patients reporting high adherence to study treatment, but patient numbers were small.

Conclusions

The lipid and lipoprotein findings indicate that Omacor had nominally favorable effects on the blood lipid profile. Less than 10% of patients enrolled in DIAPAsOn used the bespoke digital platform piloted in the study, and the level of self-reported adherence to medication by these patients was also low. Reasons for this low uptake and adherence are unclear. Better adherence was recorded in clinical reports.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03415152; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03415152

A pharmacokinetics-based approach to the monitoring of patient adherence to atorvastatin therapy

The inadequate adherence of patients whose hyperlipidemia is treated with atorvastatin (ATR) to medical instructions presents a serious health risk. Our aim was to develop a flexible approach based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), nonparametric population pharmacokinetic modeling, and Monte Carlo simulation to differentiate adherent patients from partially and nonadherent individuals in a nonrandomized, unicentric, observational study. Sixty-five subjects were enrolled. Nonparametric, mixed-effect population pharmacokinetic models of the sums of atorvastatin and atorvastatin lactone concentrations (ATR+ATRL) and of the concentrations of the acid and lactone forms of ATR and its 2- and 4-hydroxylated pharmacologically active metabolites (ATR+MET) were elaborated by including the TDM results obtained in 128 samples collected from thirty-nine subjects. Monte Carlo simulation was performed based on the elaborated models to establish the probabilities of attaining a specific ATR+ATRL or ATR+MET concentration in the range of 0.002-10 nmol (mg dose)-1 L-1 at 1-24 h postdose by adherent, partially adherent, and nonadherent patients. The results of the simulations were processed to allow the estimation of the adherence of further 26 subjects who were phlebotomized at sampling times of 2-20 h postdose by calculating the probabilities of attaining the ATR+ATRL and ATR+MET concentrations measured in these subjects in adherent, partially adherent, and nonadherent individuals. The best predictive values of the estimates of adherence could be obtained with sampling at early sampling times. 61.54% and 38.46% of subjects in the adherence testing set were estimated to be fully and partially adherent, respectively, while in all cases the probability of nonadherence was extremely low. The evaluation of patient adherence to ATR therapy based on pharmacokinetic modeling and Monte Carlo simulation has important advantages over the collection of trough samples and the use of therapeutic ranges.

Side Effect Patterns in a Crossover Trial of Statin, Placebo, and No Treatment

BACKGROUND

Most people who begin statins abandon them, most commonly because of side effects.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess daily symptom scores on statin, placebo, and no treatment in participants who had abandoned statins.

METHODS

Participants received 12 1-month medication bottles, 4 containing atorvastatin 20 mg, 4 placebo, and 4 empty. We measured daily symptom intensity for each using an app (scale 1-100). We also measured the "nocebo" ratio: the ratio of symptoms induced by taking statin that was also induced by taking placebo.

RESULTS

A total of 60 participants were randomized and 49 completed the 12-month protocol. Mean symptom score was 8.0 (95% CI: 4.7-11.3) in no-tablet months. It was higher in statin months (16.3; 95% CI: 13.0-19.6; P < 0.001), but also in placebo months (15.4; 95% CI: 12.1-18.7; P < 0.001), with no difference between the 2 (P = 0.388). The corresponding nocebo ratio was 0.90. In the individual-patient daily data, neither symptom intensity on starting (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.98-1.06; P = 0.28) nor extent of symptom relief on stopping (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.98-1.05; P = 0.48) distinguished between statin and placebo. Stopping was no more frequent for statin than placebo (P = 0.173), and subsequent symptom relief was similar between statin and placebo. At 6 months after the trial, 30 of 60 (50%) participants were back taking statins.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of symptoms caused by statin tablets were nocebo. Clinicians should not interpret symptom intensity or timing of symptom onset or offset (on starting or stopping statin tablets) as indicating pharmacological causation, because the pattern is identical for placebo. (Self-Assessment Method for Statin Side-effects Or Nocebo [SAMSON]; NCT02668016).

Switching, Persistence and Adherence to Statin Therapy: a Retrospective Cohort Study Using the Australian National Pharmacy Data

BACKGROUND

Statins are widely prescribed for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but their effectiveness is dependent on the level of adherence and persistence.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the patterns of switching, adherence and persistence among the Australian general population with newly dispensed statins.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a random sample of data from the Australian national prescription claims data. Switching, adherence to and persistence with statins were assessed for people starting statins from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. Switching was defined as either switching to another intensity of statin, to another statin or to a non-statin agent. Non-persistence to treatment was defined as discontinuation (i.e. ≥90 days with no statin) of coverage. Adherence was measured using proportion of days covered (PDC), and patients with PDC < 0.80 were considered non-adherent. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare discontinuation, switching and reinitiation between different statins.

RESULTS

A cohort of 141,062 people dispensed statins and followed over a median duration of 2.5 years were included. Of the cohort, 29.3% switched statin intensity, 28.4% switched statin type, 3.7% switched to ezetimibe and in 2.7%, ezetimibe was added as combination therapy during the study period. Overall, 58.8% discontinued statins based on the 90-day gap criteria, of whom 55.2% restarted. The proportion of people non-adherent was 24.0% at 6 months to 49.0% at 5 years. People on low and moderate intensity statins were more likely to discontinue compared to those on high-intensity statins (hazard ratio [HR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.31), (HR 1.28, 95%CI 1.14-1.42), respectively. Compared to maintaining same statin type and intensity, switching statins, which includes up-titration (HR 0.77, 95%CI 0.70 to 0.86) was associated with less likelihood of discontinuation after reinitiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term persistence and adherence to statins remains generally poor among Australians, which limits the effectiveness of these medicines and the consequent health impact they may provide for individuals (and by extension, the population impact when poor persistence and adherence is considered in the statin-taking population). Switching between statins is prevalent in one third of statin users, although any clinical benefit of the observed switching trend is unknown. This, combined with the high volume of statin prescriptions, highlights the need for better strategies to address poor persistence and adherence.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering in real-world patients treated with evolocumab

Background

Low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There are limited real‐world data on LDL‐C lowering with evolocumab in United States clinical practice.

Hypothesis

We assessed LDL‐C lowering during 1 year of evolocumab therapy.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used linked laboratory (Prognos) and medical claims (IQVIA Dx/LRx and PharMetrics Plus^®) data. Patients with a first fill for evolocumab between 7/1/2015 and 10/31/2019 (index event) and LDL‐C ≥ 70 mg/dL were included (overall cohort; N = 5897). Additionally, a patient subgroup with a recent myocardial infarction (MI) within 12 months (median 130 days) before the first evolocumab fill was identified (N = 152). Reduction from baseline LDL‐C was calculated based on the lowest LDL‐C value recorded during a 12‐month follow‐up period.

Results

The mean (SD) age was 65 (10) years; 61.9% of patients had ASCVD diagnoses and 70.7% of patients were in receipt of lipid‐lowering therapy. Following evolocumab treatment, changes in LDL‐C from baseline were −60% in the overall cohort (median [interquartile range (IQR)] 146 [115–180] mg/dL to 58 [36–84] mg/dL) and −65% in the recent MI subgroup (median [IQR] 137 [109–165] mg/dL to 48 [30–78] mg/dL). In the overall cohort and recent MI subgroup, 62.1% and 69.7% of patients achieved LDL‐C < 70 mg/dL, respectively.

Conclusions

In this real‐world analysis, evolocumab was associated with significant reductions in LDL‐C comparable to that seen in the FOURIER clinical trial, which were durable over 1 year of treatment.

Maintenance of statin therapy among people living with HIV

OBJECTIVE

Statins play a critical role in reducing the elevated risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, maintaining statin therapy is difficult and may be impeded further in PLHIV due to the risk of antiretroviral therapy (ART)/statin interactions. We estimated rates of statin discontinuation and reinitiation, and the percentage of days covered by statin use among PLHIV on ART, and investigated factors associated with these outcomes.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

METHODS

Clinical data from individuals attending the HIV-NAT Centre in Bangkok, Thailand between 2001 and 2020 were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves, competing-risk regression, and generalized estimating equations. Discontinuation was defined as statin cessation lasting 90 days.

RESULTS

Data on 318 PLHIV were included. After 1, 3, and 5 years, 22.3, 50.8, and 61.1% had discontinued statin use, respectively. Among those who discontinued (n = 178), 52.0% reinitiated statin use within 5 years. Factors associated with statin discontinuation were low education level, fewer concomitant medications, and lack of ASCVD. Factors associated with statin reinitiation were older age, diabetes, and high levels of LDL cholesterol. The adjusted mean percentage of days covered by a statin was 86.7, 61.1, and 58.1% in the 6 months prior to 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Maintenance of statin therapy is poor among PLHIV on ART but is not associated with using contraindicated antiretroviral/statin combinations. A better understanding of statin use in PLHIV will aid clinicians treating individuals and policy makers designing interventions for population-level ASCVD risk reduction.

Vascular risk factor control and adherence to secondary preventive medication after ischaemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Studies regarding adequacy of secondary stroke prevention are limited. We report medication adherence, risk factor control and factors influencing vascular risk profile following ischaemic stroke.

METHODS

A total of 664 home-dwelling participants in the Norwegian Cognitive Impairment After Stroke study, a multicenter observational study, were evaluated 3 and 18 months poststroke. We assessed medication adherence by self-reporting (4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) and medication persistence (defined as continuation of medication(s) prescribed at discharge), achievement of guideline-defined targets of blood pressure (BP) (<140/90 mmHg), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (<2.0 mmol L^-1 ) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (≤53 mmol mol^-1 ) and determinants of risk factor control.

RESULTS

At discharge, 97% were prescribed antithrombotics, 88% lipid-lowering drugs, 68% antihypertensives and 12% antidiabetic drugs. Persistence of users declined to 99%, 88%, 93% and 95%, respectively, at 18 months. After 3 and 18 months, 80% and 73% reported high adherence. After 3 and 18 months, 40.7% and 47.0% gained BP control, 48.4% and 44.6% achieved LDL-C control, and 69.2% and 69.5% of diabetic patients achieved HbA1c control. Advanced age was associated with increased LDL-C control (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06) and reduced BP control (OR 0.98, 0.96 to 0.99). Women had poorer LDL-C control (OR 0.60, 0.37 to 0.98). Polypharmacy was associated with increased LDL-C control (OR 1.29, 1.18 to 1.41) and reduced HbA1c control (OR 0.76, 0.60 to 0.98).

CONCLUSION

Risk factor control is suboptimal despite high medication persistence and adherence. Improved understanding of this complex clinical setting is needed for optimization of secondary preventive strategies.

Current Practices and Gaps in Management of Dyslipidemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Accordance with American Diabetes Association (ADA) Guidelines: A Subset Analysis from a Real-World, Cross-Sectional Observational Study (LEADD Study)

BACKGROUND

Diabetic dyslipidemia is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides internationally accepted guidelines to manage dyslipidemia in T2DM.

OBJECTIVE

To assess if ADA guidelines are followed for managing dyslipidemia in patients with T2DM in India.

METHODS

This was a subset analysis of a prospective, cross sectional, observational study (LEADD Study) conducted at 199 sites across India to evaluate dyslipidemia management practices in T2DM patients (N=4002), in a real-world setting. The data was stratified based on age and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and ASCVD risk factors to record the percentages of T2DM patients achieving LDL-C target and treated optimally with the Guideline directed intensity of statin. Analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

As per ADA 2018 targets: LDL-C levels (<100mg/dL) were seen in 30.6% of participants. High intensity statins were prescribed to 13.4% of the participants with LDL levels ≥100 mg/dL. ASCVD risk assessment details were available for 89.2% of participants. Data was not available for smoking and albuminuria. In participants <40 years of age, 80% and 64.2% with ASCVD and ASCVD risk factors, respectively, did not achieve target LDL-C levels. In this age group, 15.6% and 83.3% of participants with ASCVD risk factors and ASCVD group, respectively, were not receiving statins in the recommended dose. In participants ≥40 years of age, 88.0% and 91.5% with ASCVD and ASCVD risk factors, respectively, did not have LDL-C levels as per ADA 2018 targets. In this age group, 87.2% and 77.9% of participants with ASCVD risk factors and ASCVD, respectively, were not receiving statins in the recommended dose.

CONCLUSION

The sub-analysis of LEADD study shows sub-optimal adherence to ADA 2018 guidelines for management of diabetic dyslipidemia.

Real-world analyses of patients with elevated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk from the Optum Research Database

More than 56 million Americans have hypertriglyceridemia, including over 12 million statin-treated individuals. However, the contribution of elevated and high triglyceride levels to cardiovascular disease and death has not been extensively studied using real-world analyses. We review recent analyses of the Optum Research Database, which included patients aged ≥45 years with diabetes and/or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and on statin therapy. Triglyceride levels ≥150 and 200-499 mg/dl were significantly associated with a 25.8 and 34.9% increased relative risk of cardiovascular events, respectively, versus patients with triglyceride levels <150 mg/dl. In addition, hypertriglyceridemia predicted peripheral arterial revascularization, new heart failure diagnosis and new-onset renal disease. Increased triglyceride levels were also significantly associated with increased healthcare resource utilization and costs. Interventions such as icosapent ethyl reduce triglycerides and associated cardiovascular disease risk.

Achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets as assessed by different methods in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: an analysis from the HELLAS-FH registry

Background

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. FH patients often have increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels, which further increase CVD risk. Novel methods for accurately calculating LDL-C have been proposed.

Methods

Patients with FH were recruited by a network of Greek sites participating in the HELLAS-FH registry. LDL-C levels were calculated using the Friedewald (LDL-C_F) and the Martin/Hopkins (LDL-C_M/H) equations as well as after correcting LDL-C_M/H for Lp(a) levels [LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H]. The objective was to compare LDL-C levels and target achievement as estimated by different methods in FH patients.

Results

This analysis included 1620 patients (1423 adults and 197 children). In adults at diagnosis, LDL-C_F and LDL-C_M/H levels were similar [235 ± 70 mg/dL (6.1 ± 1.8 mmol/L) vs 235 ± 69 mg/dL (6.1 ± 1.8 mmol/L), respectively; P = NS], while LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H levels were non-significantly lower than LDL-C_F [211 ± 61 mg/dL (5.5 ± 1.6 mmol/L); P = 0.432]. In treated adults (n = 966) both LDL-C_F [150 ± 71 mg/dL (3.9 ± 1.8 mmol/L)] and LDL-C_M/H levels [151 ± 70 mg/dL (6.1 ± 1.8 mmol/L); P = 0.746] were similar, whereas LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H levels were significantly lower than LDL-C_F [121 ± 62 mg/dL (3.1 ± 1.6 mmol/L); P < 0.001]. Target achievement as per latest guidelines in treated patients using the LDL-C_M/H (2.5%) and especially LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H methods (10.7%) were significantly different than LDL-C_F (2.9%; P < 0.001).

In children, all 3 formulas resulted in similar LDL-C levels, both at diagnosis and in treated patients. However, target achievement by LDL-C_F was lower compared with LDL-C_M/H and LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H methods (22.1 vs 24.8 vs 33.3%; P < 0.001 for both comparisons).

Conclusion

LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H results in significantly lower values and higher target achievement rate in both treated adults and children. If validated in clinical trials, LDL-C_Lp(a)corM/H may become the method of choice to more accurately estimate ‘true’ LDL-C levels in FH patients.

Risk of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia: A review of real-world evidence

AIMS

To describe the real-world prevalence and consequences of hypertriglyceridaemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched two large patient databases, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2007-2014) and the Optum Research Database, as well as electronic medical records from two Kaiser Permanente regions.

RESULTS

The NHANES data showed that ~26% of US adults, including nearly one-third of statin users, had at least borderline hypertriglyceridaemia (triglycerides [TGs] ≥1.69 mmol/L), and ~40% of adults with diabetes had levels of ≥150 mg/dL despite statin use. The Optum analyses demonstrated that those with TG levels ≥1.69 mmol/L who were on statins had a significantly increased risk of composite initial major cardiovascular (CV) events (hazard ratio [HR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.34; P < 0.001 vs. patients with TGs <150 mg/dL). This was accompanied by increased healthcare utilization and direct healthcare costs (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.16; P < 0.001). In the analyses of the Kaiser Permanente records, patients with diabetes and TG levels 2.26-5.64 mmol/L had significantly higher adjusted incidence rates of non-fatal myocardial infarction (rate ratio 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.58; P = 0.006), non-fatal stroke (rate ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.01-1.49; P = 0.037) and coronary revascularization (rate ratio 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.43; P = 0.027), but not unstable angina (rate ratio 1.33; 95% CI 0.87-2.03; P = 0.185) compared with patients with TG levels <1.69 mmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world analyses suggest that elevated TGs are prevalent and commonly associated with increased CV risk. CV outcomes trials in patients with established hypertriglyceridaemia will clarify whether strategies to reduce TG levels can ameliorate residual CV risk in patients taking statins.

Adherence to lipid-lowering therapy and risk for cardiovascular disease and death in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a population-based study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

Dyslipidemia is an important modifiable risk factor and lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) is essential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies in type 2 diabetes indicate that low adherence to statin therapy is a barrier to reach full protective potential, and less is known in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim was to assess risk of CVD by adherence and nonpersistence to LLT in T1D.  METHOD: A population-based study with a retrospective longitudinal design was conducted between 2006 and 2010, with follow-up until December 2013. In total, 6192 adult individuals with T1D, initiating LLT between 2006 and 2010, were included. Information on LLT, socioeconomic characteristics, comorbidities and cardiovascular events were collected. After 18 months, refill adherence was estimated by calculating medication possession ratio (MPR). Nonpersistence was defined as being without medicines on hand for at least 180 days. Individuals were thereafter followed until CVD, death or end of follow-up in December 2013. Cox regression analyses were performed to assess adherence level and nonpersistence of LLT as predictor of CVD. Analyses were adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and socioeconomic status.   RESULTS: Mean MPR was 72%, 52% of the participants had an MPR above 80% and 27% discontinued LLT. There were 637 nonfatal and 58 fatal CVD events, mean follow-up 3.6 and 3.9 years, respectively. MPR above 80% was associated with reduced risk for nonfatal CVD compared with lower MPR, HR 0.78 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.93)). For fatal CVD, results indicated a negative effect of high adherence but the association did not reach statistical significance, HR 1.96 (0.96 to 4.01). Individuals discontinuing LLT had higher risk of nonfatal CVD, HR 1.43 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.73).  CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In T1D, the risk for nonfatal CVD was lower among individuals with high adherence and higher among those discontinuing LLT within 18 months. It is important to evaluate and emphasize adherence to prescribed LLT at clinical visits to achieve treatment goals and reduce the risk of CVD.