Statin therapy/lipid lowering therapy among Indian adults with first acute coronary event: The dyslipidemia Residual and Mixed Abnormalities IN spite of Statin therapy (REMAINS) study

Evaluating LDL-C control in Indian acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients- A retrospective real-world study LDL-C control in ACS

Background

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) progression. Although lipid lowering therapies remain the cornerstone of secondary ACSVD prevention, there exists residual dyslipidemia. The current study aimed to evaluate the real-world experience related to the treatment patterns and LDL-C control in Indian Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods

This was a real-world, descriptive, retrospective, observational, and multicentric study conducted across India. The data was collected for 1 year following the ACS event. The change in the levels of LDL-C from the baseline to the follow-up visits and the control of LDL-C, the change in lipid profile, lipoprotein levels, treatment patterns for lipid-lowering, and tolerability of existing treatments were evaluated.

Results

Overall, 575 patients were included from 11 centers across India. The mean age of the patients was 52.92 years, with male predominance (76.35%). Although there was a significant reduction in the mean levels of LDL-C from the baseline [(122.64 ± 42.01 mg/dl to 74.41 ± 26.45 mg/dl (p < 0.001)], it was observed that despite high-intensity statin therapy, only 20.87% patients managed to achieve target LDL-C of <55 mg/dL and 55.65% were unable to reach LDL-C levels of <70 mg/dl one year after the event. Six patients reported adverse events without treatment discontinuation.

Conclusion

The majority of the patients received high-intensity statins and did not attain target LDL-C levels, suggesting LDL-C control after an ACS event requires management with novel therapies having better efficacy as recommended by international and national guidelines.

A Narrative Review and Expert Panel Recommendations on Dyslipidaemia Management After Acute Coronary Syndrome in Countries Outside Western Europe and North America

Patients who have experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at very high risk of recurrent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Dyslipidaemia, a major risk factor for CVD, is poorly controlled post ACS in countries outside Western Europe and North America, despite the availability of effective lipid-modifying therapies (LMTs) and guidelines governing their use. Recent guideline updates recommend that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the primary target for dyslipidaemia therapy, be reduced by ≥ 50% and to < 1.4 mmol/L (55 mg/dL) in patients at very high risk of CVD, including those with ACS. The high prevalence of CVD risk factors in some regions outside Western Europe and North America confers a higher risk of CVD on patients in these countries. ACS onset is often earlier in these patients, and they may be more challenging to treat. Other barriers to effective dyslipidaemia control include low awareness of the value of intensive lipid lowering in patients with ACS, physician non-adherence to guideline recommendations, and lack of efficacy of currently used LMTs. Lack of appropriate pathways to guide follow-up of patients with ACS post discharge and poor access to intensive medications are important factors limiting dyslipidaemia therapy in many countries. Opportunities exist to improve attainment of LDL-C targets by the use of country-specific treatment algorithms to promote adherence to guideline recommendations, medical education and greater prioritisation by healthcare systems of dyslipidaemia management in very high risk patients.

Impact of pharmacogenetics on statin-induced myopathy in South-Indian subjects

OBJECTIVES

Statins are the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Statin-associated adverse effects occur in ∼10% of patients and are associated with polymorphisms in several key genes coding for transporters and metabolizing enzymes that affect statin pharmacokinetics. In the present study, we examine the association between cytochrome P450 3A5*3 (CYP3A5*3) T>C (rs776746), COQ G>C (rs4693075), and SLCO1B1 T>C (rs4149056) genetic variants with the risk of myopathy in South Indian patients on statin therapy.

METHODS

A total of 202 patients on atorvastatin or rosuvastatin therapy for 12 years were recruited in the study. Genotyping of drug metabolic CYP3A5*3 gene variant and drug transporter genes COQ G>C (rs4693075) and SLCO1B1 T>C (rs4149056) was analyzed by Sanger's sequencing.

RESULTS

In our study subjects, the percentage of patients diagnosed to have statin-induced myopathy was 18%. The majority of the patients were on 10 mg/day dose of either atorvastatin or rosuvastatin. The homozygous nonexpressors genotype CYP3A5*3/3 frequency of the CYP3A5 polymorphism was higher in patients with myopathy. But we could not find association of CYP3A5, COQ, and SLCO1B1 gene polymorphisms with either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin.

CONCLUSION

Our results clearly demonstrate that the frequency of CYP3A5*3 splicing variant is higher in myopathy group than in the tolerant group. We did not find significant association of genetic polymorphisms in CYP3A5, COQ, and SLCO1B1 with atorvastatin- or rosuvastatin-induced myopathy.

The effects of folate supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Although several studies have assessed the effect of folate supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases, findings are inconsistent. This review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to summarize the evidence on the effects of folate supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases.

METHODS

Randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) published in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases up to until 20 August 2017 were searched. Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and evaluated risk of bias of included studies. Heterogeneity was measured with a Q-test and with I₂ statistics. Data were pooled by using the fix or random-effect model based on the heterogeneity test results and expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

A total of thirteen randomized controlled trials were included. Folate supplementation did not affect systolic blood pressure (SMD -0.87; 95% CI, -1.83, 0.09) and diastolic blood pressure (SMD -0.59; 95% CI, -1.55, 0.37), and lipid profiles including triglycerides (SMD 0.10; 95% CI, -0.42, 0.63), total- (SMD 0.06; 95% CI, -0.31, 0.43), HDL- (SMD 0.04; 95% CI, -0.36, 0.44), VLDL- (SMD 0.08; 95% CI, -0.24, 0.41), and LDL-cholesterol (SMD -0.14; 95% CI, -0.55, 0.28).

CONCLUSIONS

Folate supplementation did not affect blood pressures and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases. Additional prospective studies regarding the impact of folate supplementation on blood pressures and lipid profiles in patients with metabolic diseases are necessary.