News
HUYGENS: How does PCSK9 inhibition impact plaque phenotype?
Randomized controlled trials have unequivocally established that lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduces cardiovascular event rates in both the primary and secondary prevention setting (1). Moreover, there is no apparent threshold to benefit, as demonstrated in landmark cardiovascular outcomes studies with PCSK9 monoclonal…
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Pooled analysis highlights the promise of inclisiran
A new pooled analysis shows that inclisiran, twice yearly in addition to statin, is effective and safe in patients with or at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (1). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is established as causal for ASCVD (2,3). While statins are undoubtedly…
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News from ODYSSEY OUTCOMES: Lipoprotein(a) and diabetes risk
A new analysis from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES study reports that lower lipoprotein(a) concentration is associated with increased risk for incident type 2 diabetes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (1). Beyond efficacious LDL cholesterol lowering, PCSK9 inhibitors also reduce lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a highly heritable risk…
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EUROASPIRE: Need to improve risk factor management in women with diabetes and CAD
More needs to be done to improve risk factor management in women with dysglycaemia and coronary artery disease (CAD), according to findings from this survey within the European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) IV and V framework (1)….
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LDL cholesterol management inferior in women in primary care
In both primary and secondary prevention settings, management of LDL cholesterol is worse in women than men, according to this Swiss study in over 50,000 patients. It is well recognised that there are disparities between men and women in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. While premenopausal…
read more »PCSK9 inhibitors and cognition back in the news
PCSK9 inhibitors and cognition back in the news Two recent reports have again raised the question of a possible link between the long-term effects of PCSK9 inhibition and cognitive adverse effects. In the first report from the UK BioBank (1), the association of genetic variants…
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Early and low for LDL cholesterol management post-MI
Early and low for LDL cholesterol management post-MI Patients with the earliest and largest LDL cholesterol reductions after myocardial infarction (MI) gain the most cardiovascular benefit, according to real-world data from a Swedish registry (1). Although clinical trials clearly show the cardiovascular benefits of targeting…
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ODYSSEY OUTCOMES: Uncertainty persists about CV benefit at LDL cholesterol <25 mg/dL
ODYSSEY OUTCOMES: Uncertainty persists about CV benefit at LDL cholesterol <25 mg/dL This latest analysis from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Investigators sought to resolve uncertainty regarding additional cardiovascular benefit at very low LDL cholesterol levels. Recent guidelines have lowered LDL cholesterol goals in very high-risk patients,…
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Early discontinuation of PCSK9 inhibitors problematic in practice
Over one-quarter of patients prescribed a PCSK9 inhibitor stop treatment within 6 months, according to this analysis of real-world practice. Landmark clinical trials – FOURIER with evolocumab and ODYSSEY OUTCOMES with alirocumab – have confirmed the benefit of PCSK9 inhibition, against a background of statin…
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Higher PCSK9 levels in patients with peripheral artery disease
Results from the CAVASIC study indicate that higher PCSK9 levels associate with peripheral artery disease (PAD), independent of other lipid variables or cardiovascular risk factors. The CAVASIC (CArdioVAScular disease in patients with Intermittent Claudication) Study was initiated in Austria in 2002 to identify cardiovascular risk…
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New Cochrane analysis reaffirms role for PCSK9 inhibitors
A new analysis including data on more than 60,000 patients reaffirms guideline recommendations for the use of PCSK9 monoclonal antibody therapy in high and very high-risk patients needing additional LDL cholesterol reduction to attain goals. This latest Cochrane analysis addressed a key question: What is…
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New guidance for familial hypercholesterolaemia care in Australia
The FH Australasia Network Consensus Working Group has published new evidence-informed guidance to improve the care of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH, inherited high cholesterol) in the Australasia region. Driving this update to the 2011 guidance is the tsunami of publications about FH (1), as well as…
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News from South Africa: The Wits FIND-FH Program
This report discusses this phenotypic cascade screening program, much needed in South Africa. Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH, inherited high cholesterol) is one of the commonest inherited diseases in the world, affecting about one in 250 to 300 of White populations (1). However, some countries such as…
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Two Lancet studies make the case for treating high LDL cholesterol in the ‘healthy’ elderly
In the primary prevention setting, individuals aged 75 years or older with elevated LDL cholesterol are at higher absolute cardiovascular risk than those who are younger. These people would gain from lipid lowering treatment, which is as efficacious as in younger age groups. These are…
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News from ODYSSEY OUTCOMES: Lipoprotein(a) lowering is an independent contributor to total cardiovascular event reduction with alirocumab
Lipoprotein(a) lowering contributed to total cardiovascular event reduction in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients independent of the effects of alirocumab on LDL cholesterol, according to this analysis of ODYSSEY OUTCOMES. The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial previously reported that lowering lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with alirocumab reduced the risk…
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LDL lipidomics: are bioactive lipids biomarkers for cardiometabolic risk?
This report addressed two key questions. Can the bioactive lipid cargo differentiate LDL subclasses, and thus potential atherogenicity? And if so, what is the effect of statin therapy? The human plasma lipidome is composed of many molecular lipid species, showing diverse physicochemical and biological properties….
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Evolocumab with statin/ezetimibe combination may be cost-effective in MI patients: Swedish analysis
An analysis from the Swedish perspective concludes that treatment with the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab on top of statin and ezetimibe may be cost-effective in MI patients. While the PCSK9 inhibitors are undoubtedly highly efficacious in lowering LDL cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular events in high and…
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PCSK9 inhibition improves coronary endothelial function in people living with HIV
People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are at increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared with those without this infection despite more extensive use of antiretroviral therapy and increased use of statin therapy (1). This increased risk relates to the presence of…
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Eligibility for PCSK9 inhibitors: Europe versus the US guidelines
According to this report, about half of all patients hospitalised for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) would be eligible for treatment with a PCSK9 inhibitor, based on the 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) dyslipidaemia guidelines. This contrasts with about one in…
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FOURIER: Benefit from evolocumab in different MI subtypes
A new analysis from the FOURIER study suggests that lowering LDL cholesterol with evolocumab led to benefit across various myocardial infarction (MI) subtypes linked to plaque rupture. The Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research With PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects With Elevated Risk (FOURIER) study previously demonstrated significant…
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