Statin utilization and cardiovascular outcomes in a real-world primary prevention cohort of older adults

Background

Statins are a cost-effective therapy for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Guidelines on statins for primary prevention are unclear for older adults (>75 years).

Objective

Investigate statin utility in older adults without ASCVD events, by risk stratifying in a large healthcare network.

Methods

We included 8,114 older adults, without CAD, PVD or ischemic stroke. Statin utilization based on ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk calculation, was evaluated in intermediate (7.5%-19.9%) and high-risk patients (≥ 20%); and categorized using low and 'moderate or high' intensity statins with a follow up period of ∼7 years. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios for incident ASCVD and mortality across risk categories stratified by statin utilization. Data was adjusted for competing risk using Elixhauser Comorbidity Index.

Results

Compared with those on moderate or high intensity statins, high-risk older patients not on any statin had a significantly increased risk of MI [HR 1.51 (1.17-1.95); p<0.01], stroke [HR 1.47 (1.14-1.90); p<0.01] and all-cause mortality [HR 1.37 (1.19-1.58); p<0.001] in models adjusted for Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. When comparing the no statin group versus the moderate or high intensity statin group in the intermediate risk cohort, although a trend for increased risk was seen, it did not meet statistical significance thresholds for MI, stroke or all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

Lack of statin use was associated with increased cardiovascular events and mortality in high-risk older adults. Given the benefits appreciated, statin use may need to be strongly considered for primary ASCVD prevention among high-risk older adults. Future studies will assess the risk-benefit ratio of statin intervention in older adults.

Lipoprotein(a) and Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk in a Multi-Ethnic Pooled Prospective Cohort

BACKGROUND

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a causal genetic risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There are limited long-term follow-up data from large U.S. population cohorts.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the relationship of Lp(a) with ASCVD outcomes in a large, pooled, multi-ethnic U.S.

COHORT

METHODS

The study included data on Lp(a) and ASCVD outcomes from 5 U.S.

PROSPECTIVE STUDIES

MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), JHS (Jackson Heart Study), FHS-OS (Framingham Heart Study-Offspring), and ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities). Lp(a) levels were classified on the basis of cohort-specific percentiles. Multivariable Cox regression related Lp(a) with composite incident ASCVD events by risk group and diabetes status.

RESULTS

The study included 27,756 persons without previous ASCVD who were aged 20 to 79 years, including 55.0% women, 35.6% Black participants, and 7.6% patients with diabetes, with mean follow-up of 21.1 years. Compared with Lp(a) levels <50th percentile, Lp(a) levels in the 50th to <75th, 75th to <90th, and ≥90th percentiles had adjusted HRs of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.99-1.14), 1.18 (95% CI: 1.09-1.28), and 1.46 (95% CI: 1.33-1.59), respectively for ASCVD events. Elevated Lp(a) predicted incident ASCVD events similarly by risk group, sex, and race or ethnic groups, but more strongly in patients with vs without diabetes (interaction P = 0.0056), with HRs for Lp(a) levels ≥90th percentile of 1.92 (95% CI: 1.50-2.45) and 1.41 (95% CI: 1.28-1.55), respectively. Lp(a) also individually predicted myocardial infarction, revascularization, stroke, and coronary heart disease death, but not total mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows, in a large U.S. pooled cohort, that higher Lp(a) levels are associated with an increased ASCVD risk, including in patients with diabetes.

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential predicts incident cardiac arrhythmias

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related expansion of blood cells with preleukemic mutations, is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure. This study aimed to test the association of CHIP with new-onset arrhythmias.

METHODS

UK Biobank participants without prevalent arrhythmias were included. Co-primary study outcomes were supraventricular arrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias, and ventricular arrhythmias. Secondary outcomes were cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation, and any arrhythmia. Associations of any CHIP [variant allele fraction (VAF) ≥ 2%], large CHIP (VAF ≥10%), and gene-specific CHIP subtypes with incident arrhythmias were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression. Associations of CHIP with myocardial interstitial fibrosis [T1 measured using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)] were also tested.

RESULTS

This study included 410 702 participants [CHIP: n = 13 892 (3.4%); large CHIP: n = 9191 (2.2%)]. Any and large CHIP were associated with multi-variable-adjusted hazard ratios of 1.11 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.18; P = .001] and 1.13 (95% CI 1.05-1.22; P = .001) for supraventricular arrhythmias, 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.19; P = .031) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.03-1.25; P = .011) for bradyarrhythmias, and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.00-1.34; P = .049) and 1.22 (95% CI 1.03-1.45; P = .021) for ventricular arrhythmias, respectively. Associations were independent of coronary artery disease and heart failure. Associations were also heterogeneous across arrhythmia subtypes and strongest for cardiac arrest. Gene-specific analyses revealed an increased risk of arrhythmias across driver genes other than DNMT3A. Large CHIP was associated with 1.31-fold odds (95% CI 1.07-1.59; P = .009) of being in the top quintile of myocardial fibrosis by CMR.

CONCLUSIONS

CHIP may represent a novel risk factor for incident arrhythmias, indicating a potential target for modulation towards arrhythmia prevention and treatment.

Large-Scale Proteomics Identifies Novel Biomarkers and Circulating Risk Factors for Aortic Stenosis

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist regarding risk factors for aortic stenosis (AS). The plasma proteome is a promising phenotype for discovery of novel biomarkers and potentially causative mechanisms.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to discover novel biomarkers with potentially causal associations with AS.

METHODS

We measured 4,877 plasma proteins (SomaScan aptamer-affinity assay) among ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study participants in mid-life (visit 3 [V3]; n = 11,430; age 60 ± 6 years) and in late-life (V5; n = 4,899; age 76 ± 5 years). We identified proteins cross-sectionally associated with aortic valve (AV) peak velocity (AVmax) and dimensionless index by echocardiography at V5 and with incident AV-related hospitalization after V3 with the use of multivariable linear and Cox proportional hazard regression. We assessed associations of candidate proteins with changes in AVmax over 6 years and with AV calcification with the use of cardiac computed tomography, replicated analysis in an independent sample, performed Mendelian randomization, and evaluated gene expression in explanted human AV tissue.

RESULTS

Fifty-two proteins cross-sectionally were associated with AVmax and dimensionless index at V5 and with risk of incident AV-related hospitalization after V3. Among 3,413 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, 6 of those proteins were significantly associated with adjudicated moderate or severe AS, including matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12), complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 1 (C1QTNF1), and growth differentiation factor-15. MMP12 was also associated with greater increase in AVmax over 6 years, greater degree of AV calcification, and greater expression in calcific compared with normal or fibrotic AV tissue. C1QTNF1 had consistent potential causal effects on both AS and AVmax according to Mendelian randomization analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings identify MMP12 as a potential novel circulating biomarker of AS risk and C1QTNF1 as a new putative target to prevent AS progression.

Social Vulnerability and Cardiovascular-Related Mortality Among Older Adults in the United States

PURPOSE

The association of social vulnerability and cardiovascular disease-related mortality in older adults has not been well characterized.

METHODS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database was evaluated to examine the relationship between county-level Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and age-adjusted cardiovascular disease-related mortality rates (AAMRs) in adults aged 65 and above in the United States between 2016 and 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 3139 counties in the United States were analyzed. Cardiovascular disease-related AAMRs increased in a stepwise manner from first (least vulnerable) to fourth SVI quartiles; (AAMR of 2423, 95% CI [confidence interval] 2417-2428; 2433, 95% CI 2429-2437; 2516, 95% CI 2513-2520; 2660, 95% CI 2657-2664). Similar trends among AAMRs were noted based on sex, all race and ethnicity categories, and among urban and rural regions. Higher AAMR ratios between the highest and lowest SVI quartiles, implying greater relative associations of SVI on mortality rates, were seen among Hispanic individuals (1.52, 95% CI 1.49-1.55), Non-Hispanic-Asian and Pacific Islander individuals (1.32, 95% CI 1.29-1.52), Non-Hispanic- American Indian or Alaskan Native individuals (1.43, 95% CI 1.37-1.50), and rural counties (1.21, 95% CI 1.20-1.21).

CONCLUSION

Social vulnerability as measures by the SVI was associated with cardiovascular disease-related mortality in older adults, with the association being particularly prominent in ethnic minority patients and rural counties.

Large scale plasma proteomics identifies novel proteins and protein networks associated with heart failure development

Heart failure (HF) causes substantial morbidity and mortality but its pathobiology is incompletely understood. The proteome is a promising intermediate phenotype for discovery of novel mechanisms. We measured 4877 plasma proteins in 13,900 HF-free individuals across three analysis sets with diverse age, geography, and HF ascertainment to identify circulating proteins and protein networks associated with HF development. Parallel analyses in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants in mid-life and late-life and in Trøndelag Health Study participants identified 37 proteins consistently associated with incident HF independent of traditional risk factors. Mendelian randomization supported causal effects of 10 on HF, HF risk factors, or left ventricular size and function, including matricellular (e.g. SPON1, MFAP4), senescence-associated (FSTL3, IGFBP7), and inflammatory (SVEP1, CCL15, ITIH3) proteins. Protein co-regulation network analyses identified 5 modules associated with HF risk, two of which were influenced by genetic variants that implicated trans hotspots within the VTN and CFH genes.

Gene-educational attainment interactions in a multi-population genome-wide meta-analysis identify novel lipid loci

Introduction: Educational attainment, widely used in epidemiologic studies as a surrogate for socioeconomic status, is a predictor of cardiovascular health outcomes. Methods: A two-stage genome-wide meta-analysis of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) levels was performed while accounting for gene-educational attainment interactions in up to 226,315 individuals from five population groups. We considered two educational attainment variables: "Some College" (yes/no, for any education beyond high school) and "Graduated College" (yes/no, for completing a 4-year college degree). Genome-wide significant (p < 5 × 10-8) and suggestive (p < 1 × 10-6) variants were identified in Stage 1 (in up to 108,784 individuals) through genome-wide analysis, and those variants were followed up in Stage 2 studies (in up to 117,531 individuals). Results: In combined analysis of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 18 novel lipid loci (nine for LDL, seven for HDL, and two for TG) by two degree-of-freedom (2 DF) joint tests of main and interaction effects. Four loci showed significant interaction with educational attainment. Two loci were significant only in cross-population analyses. Several loci include genes with known or suggested roles in adipose (FOXP1, MBOAT4, SKP2, STIM1, STX4), brain (BRI3, FILIP1, FOXP1, LINC00290, LMTK2, MBOAT4, MYO6, SENP6, SRGAP3, STIM1, TMEM167A, TMEM30A), and liver (BRI3, FOXP1) biology, highlighting the potential importance of brain-adipose-liver communication in the regulation of lipid metabolism. An investigation of the potential druggability of genes in identified loci resulted in five gene targets shown to interact with drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including genes with roles in adipose and brain tissue. Discussion: Genome-wide interaction analysis of educational attainment identified novel lipid loci not previously detected by analyses limited to main genetic effects.

Missense Genetic Variation of ICAM1 and Incident Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a cell surface protein that participates in endothelial activation and is hypothesized to play a central role in heart failure (HF). We evaluated associations of ICAM1 missense genetic variants with circulating ICAM-1 levels and with incident HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 3 missense variants within ICAM1 (rs5491, rs5498 and rs1799969) and evaluated their associations with ICAM-1 levels in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). We determined the association among these 3 variants and incident HF in MESA. We separately evaluated significant associations in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Of the 3 missense variants, rs5491 was common in Black participants (minor allele frequency [MAF] > 20%) and rare in other race/ethnic groups (MAF < 5%). In Black participants, the presence of rs5491 was associated with higher levels of circulating ICAM-1 at 2 timepoints separated by 8 years. Among Black participants in MESA (n = 1600), the presence of rs5491 was associated with an increased risk of incident HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF; HR = 2.30; [95% CI 1.25-4.21; P = 0.007]). The other ICAM1 missense variants (rs5498 and rs1799969) were associated with ICAM-1 levels, but there were no associations with HF. In ARIC, rs5491 was significantly associated with incident HF (HR = 1.24 [95% CI 1.02 - 1.51]; P = 0.03), with a similar direction of effect for HFpEF that was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

A common ICAM1 missense variant among Black individuals may be associated with increased risk of HF, which may be HFpEF-specific.

Ancestral diversity in lipoprotein(a) studies helps address evidence gaps

INTRODUCTION

The independent and causal cardiovascular disease risk factor lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is elevated in >1.5 billion individuals worldwide, but studies have prioritised European populations.

METHODS

Here, we examined how ancestrally diverse studies could clarify Lp(a)'s genetic architecture, inform efforts examining application of Lp(a) polygenic risk scores (PRS), enable causal inference and identify unexpected Lp(a) phenotypic effects using data from African (n=25 208), East Asian (n=2895), European (n=362 558), South Asian (n=8192) and Hispanic/Latino (n=8946) populations.

RESULTS

Fourteen genome-wide significant loci with numerous population specific signals of large effect were identified that enabled construction of Lp(a) PRS of moderate (R2=15% in East Asians) to high (R2=50% in Europeans) accuracy. For all populations, PRS showed promise as a 'rule out' for elevated Lp(a) because certainty of assignment to the low-risk threshold was high (88.0%-99.9%) across PRS thresholds (80th-99th percentile). Causal effects of increased Lp(a) with increased glycated haemoglobin were estimated for Europeans (p value =1.4×10-6), although inverse effects in Africans and East Asians suggested the potential for heterogeneous causal effects. Finally, Hispanic/Latinos were the only population in which known associations with coronary atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease were identified in external testing of Lp(a) PRS phenotypic effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results emphasise the merits of prioritising ancestral diversity when addressing Lp(a) evidence gaps.

Protein Biomarkers of New-Onset Heart Failure: Insights From the Heart Omics and Ageing Cohort, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, and the Framingham Heart Study

BACKGROUND

We sought to identify protein biomarkers of new-onset heart failure (HF) in 3 independent cohorts (HOMAGE cohort [Heart Omics and Ageing], ARIC study [Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities], and FHS [Framingham Heart Study]) and assess if and to what extent they improve HF risk prediction compared to clinical risk factors alone.

METHODS

A nested case-control design was used with cases (incident HF) and controls (without HF) matched on age and sex within each cohort. Plasma concentrations of 276 proteins were measured at baseline in ARIC (250 cases/250 controls), FHS (191/191), and HOMAGE cohort (562/871).

RESULTS

In single protein analysis, after adjusting for matching variables and clinical risk factors (and correcting for multiple testing), 62 proteins were associated with incident HF in ARIC, 16 in FHS, and 116 in HOMAGE cohort. Proteins associated with incident HF in all cohorts were BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-BP1 (4E-binding protein 1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), Gal-9 (galectin-9), TGF-alpha (transforming growth factor alpha), THBS2 (thrombospondin-2), and U-PAR (urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor). The increment in C-index for incident HF based on a multiprotein biomarker approach, in addition to clinical risk factors and NT-proBNP, was 11.1% (7.5%-14.7%) in ARIC, 5.9% (2.6%-9.2%) in FHS, and 7.5% (5.4%-9.5%) in HOMAGE cohort, all P<0.001), each of which was a larger increase than that for NT-proBNP on top of clinical risk factors. Complex network analysis revealed a number of overrepresented pathways related to inflammation (eg, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin) and remodeling (eg, extracellular matrix and apoptosis).

CONCLUSIONS

A multiprotein biomarker approach improves prediction of incident HF when added to natriuretic peptides and clinical risk factors.

Clonal haematopoiesis and risk of chronic liver disease

Chronic liver disease is a major public health burden worldwide1. Although different aetiologies and mechanisms of liver injury exist, progression of chronic liver disease follows a common pathway of liver inflammation, injury and fibrosis2. Here we examined the association between clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and chronic liver disease in 214,563 individuals from 4 independent cohorts with whole-exome sequencing data (Framingham Heart Study, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, UK Biobank and Mass General Brigham Biobank). CHIP was associated with an increased risk of prevalent and incident chronic liver disease (odds ratio = 2.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) [1.46, 2.79]; P < 0.001). Individuals with CHIP were more likely to demonstrate liver inflammation and fibrosis detectable by magnetic resonance imaging compared to those without CHIP (odds ratio = 1.74, 95% CI [1.16, 2.60]; P = 0.007). To assess potential causality, Mendelian randomization analyses showed that genetic predisposition to CHIP was associated with a greater risk of chronic liver disease (odds ratio = 2.37, 95% CI [1.57, 3.6]; P < 0.001). In a dietary model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, mice transplanted with Tet2-deficient haematopoietic cells demonstrated more severe liver inflammation and fibrosis. These effects were mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome and increased levels of expression of downstream inflammatory cytokines in Tet2-deficient macrophages. In summary, clonal haematopoiesis is associated with an elevated risk of liver inflammation and chronic liver disease progression through an aberrant inflammatory response.

Primary Prevention Management of Elevated Lipoprotein(a)

A male individual in his 40s with a strong family history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease including premature cardiovascular events in multiple family members presents to your clinic to establish care for cardiovascular risk stratification. What would you do next?

Diabetes Duration and Subclinical Myocardial Injury: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC)

BACKGROUND

Diabetes exerts adverse effects on the heart, and a longer diabetes duration is associated with greater heart failure risk. We studied diabetes duration and subclinical myocardial injury, as reflected by high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT).

METHODS

We analyzed 9052 participants without heart failure or coronary heart disease (mean age 63 years, 58% female, 21% Black, 15% with diabetes) at The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) Visit 4 (1996 to 1998). Diabetes duration was calculated based on diabetes status at Visits 1 (1987 to 1989) through 4, or using self-reported age of diabetes diagnosis prior to Visit 1. We used multinomial logistic regression to determine the association of diabetes duration with increased (≥14 ng/L) or detectable (≥6 ng/L) Visit 4 hs-cTnT, relative to undetectable hs-cTnT, adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of increased Visit 4 hs-cTnT was higher in persons with longer diabetes duration, from 12% for those with diabetes 0 to <5 years up to 31% among those with diabetes for ≥15 years (P for trend <0.0001). New onset diabetes at Visit 4 was associated with 1.92× higher relative risk (95% CI, 1.27-2.91) of increased hs-cTnT than no diabetes. Longer diabetes duration was associated with greater myocardial injury, with duration ≥15 years associated with 9.29× higher risk (95% CI, 5.65-15.29) for increased hs-cTnT and 2.07× (95% CI, 1.24-3.16) for detectable hs-cTnT, compared to no diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer diabetes duration is strongly associated with subclinical myocardial injury. Interventional studies are needed to assess whether the prevention and delay of diabetes onset can mitigate early myocardial damage.

Obesity, Galectin-3, and Incident Heart Failure: The ARIC Study

Background Laboratory data suggest obesity is linked to myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, but clinical data are limited. We aimed to examine the association of obesity with galectin-3, a biomarker of cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, and the related implications for heart failure (HF) risk. Methods and Results We evaluated 8687 participants (mean age 63 years; 21% Black) at ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Visit 4 (1996-1998) who were free of heart disease. We used adjusted logistic regression to estimate the association of body mass index (BMI) categories with elevated galectin-3 (≥75th sex-specific percentile) overall and across demographic subgroups, with tests for interaction. We used Cox proportional hazards models to assess the combined associations of galectin-3 and BMI with incident HF (through December 31, 2019). Higher BMI was associated with higher odds of elevated galectin-3 (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% CI, 1.88-2.86) for severe obesity ([BMI ≥35 kg/m2] versus normal weight [BMI 18.5-<25 kg/m2]). There were stronger associations of BMI with elevated galectin-3 among women versus men and White versus Black participants (both P-for-interaction <0.05). Elevated galectin-3 was similarly associated with incident HF among people with and without obesity (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18-1.88; and HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.38-2.11, respectively). People with severe obesity and elevated galectin-3 had >4-fold higher risk of HF (HR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.98-5.88) than those with normal weight and galectin-3 <25th percentile. Conclusions Obesity is strongly associated with elevated galectin-3. Additionally, the combination of obesity and elevated galectin-3 is associated with marked HF risk, underscoring the importance of elucidating pathways linking obesity with cardiac inflammation and fibrosis.

Upper Reference Limits for High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T and N-Terminal Fragment of the Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients With CKD

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

The utility of conventional upper reference limits (URL) for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hsTnT) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains debated. We analyzed the distribution of hsTnT and NT-proBNP in people with CKD in ambulatory settings to examine the diagnostic value of conventional URL in this population.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

We studied participants of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) with CKD and no self-reported history of cardiovascular disease.

EXPOSURE

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

OUTCOME

NT-proBNP and hsTnT at baseline.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

We described the proportion of participants above the conventional URL for NT-proBNP (125pg/mL) and hsTnT (14ng/L) overall and by eGFR. We then estimated 99th percentile URL for NT-proBNP and hsTnT. Using quantile regression of the 99th percentile, we modeled the association of eGFR with NT-proBNP and hsTnT.

RESULTS

Among 2,312 CKD participants, 40% and 43% had levels of NT-proBNP and hsTnT above the conventional URL, respectively. In those with eGFR <30mL/min/1.73m², 71% and 68% of participants had concentrations of NT-proBNP and hsTnT above the conventional URL, respectively. Among all CKD participants, the 99th percentile for NT-proBNP was 3,592 (95% CI, 2,470-4,849) pg/mL and for hsTnT it was 126 (95% CI, 100-144) ng/L. Each 15mL/min/1.73m² decrement in eGFR was associated with a ~40% higher threshold for the 99th percentile of NT-proBNP (1.43 [95% CI, 1.21-1.69]) and hsTnT (1.45 [95% CI, 1.31-1.60]).

LIMITATIONS

Study included ambulatory patients, and we could not test the accuracy of the URL of NT-proBNP and hsTnT in the acute care setting.

CONCLUSIONS

In this ambulatory CKD population with no self-reported history of cardiovascular disease, a range of 40%-88% of participants had concentrations of NT-proBNP and hsTnT above the conventional URL, depending on eGFR strata. Developing eGFR-specific thresholds for these commonly used cardiac biomarkers in the setting of CKD may improve their utility for evaluation of suspected heart failure and myocardial infarction.

NT-pro B-type natriuretic peptide, early menopause, and incident heart failure in postmenopausal women of the ARIC study

OBJECTIVE

N-Terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker of heart failure (HF) has been associated with early menopause. We evaluated the modifying role of early menopause on the association of NT-proBNP with incident HF, and separately for HF subtypes, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

METHODS

We included 4,352 postmenopausal women including 1,174 with early menopause, ages 63.5 ± 5.5 years, without prevalent HF at the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study Visit 4. Binary log-transformation was performed for NT-proBNP. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association of NT-proBNP with incident HF, and separately for incident HFpEF and incident HFrEF, testing for effect modification by early menopause and adjusting for HF risk factors.

RESULTS

We observed 881 HF events over a mean follow-up of 16.5 years. The interaction terms of NT-proBNP and early menopause were not significant for incident HF (Pinteraction 0.95) and incident HFpEF (Pinteraction 0.17) but were significant for incident HFrEF (Pinteraction 0.03). The adjusted hazard ratios resulting from each doubling of NT-proBNP levels amongst women with and without early menopause were 1.33 (1.20-1.47) and 1.34 (1.24-1.44), respectively, for incident HF; 1.57 (1.34-1.86) and 1.38 (1.24-1.54), respectively, for incident HFpEF; and 1.68 (1.42-1.99) and 1.36 (1.22-1.52), respectively, for incident HFrEF.

CONCLUSIONS

The association of NT-proBNP with incident HFpEF is similar irrespective of early menopause status. However, the association of NT-proBNP with incident HFrEF is greater among women with early menopause when compared to those without early menopause.

Mid- to Late-Life Inflammation and Risk of Cardiac Dysfunction, HFpEF and HFrEF in Late Life

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic data supporting the association of accumulated inflammation from mid- to late life with late-life risk of cardiac dysfunction and heart failure (HF) is limited.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Among 4011 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study who were free of prevalent cardiovascular disease at study Visit 5, accumulated inflammation was defined as time-averaged high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP) over 3 visits spanning 1990 to 2013. Associations with left ventricular (LV) function at Visit 5 and with incident adjudicated HF post Visit 5 were assessed using linear and Cox regression, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. Higher accumulated hsCRP was associated with greater LV mass index, lower e', higher E/e', and higher adjusting for demographics (all P ≤0.01), but only with higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure after adjustment for comorbidities (P = 0.024). At 5.3 ± 1.2 year follow-up, higher accumulated hsCRP was associated with greater risk of incident HF (HR 1.31 [95% CI 1.18-1.47], P < 0.001), HFrEF (1.26 [1.05-1.52], P = 0.01), and HFpEF (1.30 [1.11-1.53], P = 0.001) in demographic-adjusted models, but not after adjustment for comorbidities (all P > 0.10). Only Visit 5 hsCRP remained associated with incident HF (1.12 [1.02-1.24], P = 0.02) after full adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater accumulated inflammation is associated with worse LV function and heightened HF risk in late-life. These relationships are attenuated after adjusting for HF risk factors.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk-Based Statin Utilization and Associated Outcomes in a Primary Prevention Cohort: Insights From a Large Health Care Network

BACKGROUND

Current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend using the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk to guide statin therapy for primary prevention. Real-world data on adherence and consequences of nonadherence to the guidelines in primary are limited. We investigated the guideline-directed statin intensity (GDSI) and associated outcomes in a large health care system, stratified by ASCVD risk.

METHODS

Statin prescription in patients without coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, or ischemic stroke were evaluated within a large health care network (2013-2017) using electronic medical health records. Patient categories constructed by the 10-year ASCVD risk were borderline (5%-7.4%), intermediate (7.5%-19.9%), or high (≥20%). The GDSI (before time of first event) was defined as none or any intensity for borderline, and at least moderate for intermediate and high-risk groups. Mean (±SD) time to start/change to GDSI from first interaction in health care and incident rates (per 1000 person-years) for each outcome were calculated. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios for incident ASCVD and mortality across risk categories stratified by statin utilization.

RESULTS

Among 282 298 patients (mean age ≈50 years), 29 134 (10.3%), 63 299 (22.4%), and 26 687 (9.5%) were categorized as borderline, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. Among intermediate and high-risk categories, 27 358 (43%) and 8300 (31%) patients did not receive any statin, respectively. Only 17 519 (65.6%) high-risk patients who were prescribed a statin received GDSI. The mean time to GDSI was ≈2 years among the intermediate and high-risk groups. At a median follow-up of 6 years, there was a graded increase in risk of ASCVD events in intermediate risk (hazard ratio=1.15 [1.07-1.24]) and high risk (hazard ratio=1.27 [1.17-1.37]) when comparing no statin use with GDSI therapy. Similarly, mortality risk among intermediate and high-risk groups was higher in no statin use versus GDSI.

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world primary prevention cohort, over one-third of statin-eligible patients were not prescribed statin therapy. Among those receiving a statin, mean time to GDSI was ≈2 years. The consequences of nonadherence to guidelines are illustrated by greater incident ASCVD and mortality events. Further research can develop and optimize health care system strategies for primary prevention.

Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Familial Hypercholesteremia

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of contemporary data regarding the outcomes of acute myocardial infarction among patients with familial hypercholesteremia.

METHODS

We queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016-2018) for hospitalizations with acute myocardial infarction. Multivariable regression analysis was used to compare in-hospital outcomes and 30-day readmissions among patients with and without familial hypercholesteremia.

RESULTS

The analysis included 1,363,488 hospitalizations with acute myocardial infarction. The prevalence of familial hypercholesteremia was 0.07% among acute myocardial infarction admissions. Compared with those without familial hypercholesteremia, admissions with familial hypercholesteremia were younger and had less comorbidities but were more likely to have had prior infarct and revascularization. Admissions with familial hypercholesteremia were more likely to present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and undergo revascularization. After multivariable adjustment, there was no difference in in-hospital case fatality among patients with hypercholesteremia compared with those without it (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-1.39). Admissions with acute myocardial infarction and familial hypercholesteremia had higher adjusted rates of cardiac arrest and utilization of mechanical support. There were no group differences in overall 30-day readmission (aOR 0.75; 95% CI 0.51-1.10) or 30-day readmission for acute myocardial infarction. However, a nonsignificant trend toward higher readmission for percutaneous coronary intervention was observed among patients with familial hypercholesteremia (aOR 1.89; 95% CI 0.98-3.64).

CONCLUSION

In this contemporary nationwide observational analysis, patients with familial hypercholesteremia represent a small proportion of the overall population with acute myocardial infarction and have a distinctive clinical profile but do not appear to have worse in-hospital case fatality compared with those without familial hypercholesteremia.

High Burden of Subclinical and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adults With Metabolically Healthy Obesity: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

OBJECTIVE

It is controversial whether adults who are obese but "metabolically healthy" have cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk comparable with that of normal-weight adults. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), a biomarker of myocardial damage, is useful in characterizing subclinical CVD. We categorized obesity phenotypes and studied their associations with subclinical and clinical CVD and CVD subtypes, including heart failure (HF).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted cross-sectional and prospective analyses of 9,477 adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. We used the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and BMI to define obesity phenotypes as follows: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy overweight, metabolically healthy obese, metabolically unhealthy normal weight, metabolically unhealthy overweight, and metabolically unhealthy obese.

RESULTS

At baseline (1990-1992), mean age was 56 years, 56% were female, 23% were Black, and 25% had detectable hs-cTnT (≥6 ng/L). Over a median of 17 years of follow-up, there were 2,603 clinical CVD events. Those with the metabolically healthy obese (hazard ratio [HR] 1.38, 95% CI 1.15-1.67), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.30-1.76), metabolically unhealthy overweight (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.41-1.82), and metabolically unhealthy obese (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.88-2.44) phenotypes had higher CVD risks in comparison with metabolically healthy normal weight. Detectable hs-cTnT (≥6 ng/L) was associated with higher CVD risk, even among metabolically healthy normal-weight adults. Metabolically healthy obese adults had higher HF risk (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.30-2.09) in comparison with metabolically healthy normal weight.

CONCLUSIONS

The metabolically healthy obese phenotype was associated with excess burden of clinical CVD, primarily driven by an excess risk of HF. hs-cTnT was useful in stratifying CVD risk across all obesity phenotypes, even among obese individuals who appear otherwise metabolically healthy.

Social Determinants of Health and Comorbidities Among Individuals with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey

Individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) often have a high burden of comorbidities. Social determinants of health (SDOH) may complicate adherence to treatment in these patients. This study assessed the association of comorbidities and SDOH among individuals with ASCVD. Cross-sectional data from the 2016 to 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationally representative US telephone-based survey of adults ages ≥18 years, were used. Cardiovascular comorbidities included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, current cigarette smoking, and chronic kidney disease. Non-cardiovascular comorbidities included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, arthritis, cancer, and depression. SDOH associated with being at or above the 75^th percentile of comorbidity burden were analyzed using multivariable adjusted logistic regression models. The study population included 387,044 individuals, 9% of whom had ASCVD. The mean (SD) numbers of total, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular comorbidities were 1.97 (1.27), 1.28 (0.74), 0.69 (0.91) among those without ASCVD and 3.28 (1.62), 1.73 (0.91), and 1.54 (1.22) among those with ASCVD, respectively (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Female gender, household income ≤$75,000, being unemployed, and difficulty accessing health care were significantly associated with a higher burden of comorbidities among those with ASCVD. The mean (SD) numbers of comorbidities for those with 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 of the aforementioned SDOH were 2.89 (1.45), 2.86 (1.47), 3.39 (1.58), and 4.01 (1.73), respectively (P < 0.001). Among persons with ASCVD, the burden of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidities is directly proportional to SDOH in any given individual. Clinicians should address SDOH when managing high-risk individuals.

Recreational substance use among patients with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE

Despite an upsurge in the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) among young adults, the attributable risk of recreational substance use among young patients has been incompletely evaluated. We evaluated the association of all recreational substances with premature and extremely premature ASCVD.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional analysis using the 2014-2015 nationwide Veterans Affairs Healthcare database and the Veterans wIth premaTure AtheroscLerosis (VITAL) registry, patients were categorised as having premature, extremely premature or non-premature ASCVD. Premature ASCVD was defined as having first ASCVD event at age <55 years for men and <65 years for women. Extremely premature was defined as having first ASCVD event at age <40 years while non-premature ASCVD was defined as having first ASCVD event at age ≥55 years for men and ≥65 years for women. Patients with premature ASCVD (n=135 703) and those with extremely premature ASCVD (n=7716) were compared against patients with non-premature ASCVD (n=1 112 455). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to study the independent association of all recreational substances with premature and extremely premature ASCVD.

RESULTS

Compared with patients with non-premature ASCVD, patients with premature ASCVD had a higher use of tobacco (62.9% vs 40.6%), alcohol (31.8% vs 14.8%), cocaine (12.9% vs 2.5%), amphetamine (2.9% vs 0.5%) and cannabis (12.5% vs 2.7%) (p<0.01 for all comparisons). In adjusted models, the use of tobacco (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.94 to 2.00), alcohol (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.52), cocaine (OR 2.44, 95% CI 2.38 to 2.50), amphetamine (OR 2.74, 95% CI 2.62 to 2.87), cannabis (OR 2.65, 95% CI 2.59 to 2.71) and other drugs (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.47 to 2.59) was independently associated with premature ASCVD. Patients with polysubstance use had a graded response with the highest risk (~9-fold) of premature ASCVD among patients with use of ≥4 recreational substances. Similar trends were observed among patients with extremely premature ASCVD. Gender interactions with substance use were significant (p-interaction <0.05), with recreational substance use and premature ASCVD showing stronger associations among women than in men with premature ASCVD.

CONCLUSIONS

All subgroups of recreational substances were independently associated with a higher likelihood of premature and extremely premature ASCVD. Recreational substance use confers a greater magnitude of risk for premature ASCVD among women. A graded response relationship exists between increasing number of recreational substances used and higher likelihood of early-onset ASCVD.

RNAi inhibition of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) with ARO-ANG3 mimics the lipid and lipoprotein profile of familial combined hypolipidemia

Background

Elevated LDL-C and triglyceride rich lipoproteins (TRLs) are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Genetic deficiency of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) is associated with reduced circulating levels of LDL-C, triglycerides (TGs), VLDL-C, HDL-C and reduced CVD risk, with no described adverse phenotype. ARO-ANG3 is a RNA interference drug designed to silence expression of ANGPTL3. Single doses of ARO-ANG3 have been shown to reduce ANGPTL3, TGs, VLDL-C and LDL-C in healthy volunteers (HVs, AHA 2019). We report the effects of multiple doses of ARO-ANG3 in HVs with a focus on the duration of action.

Methods

ARO-ANG3 was administered subcutaneously to HVs on days 1 and 29 at doses of 100, 200 or 300 mg (n=4 per group). Measured parameters included ANGPTL3, LDL-C, TGs, VLDL-C and HDL-C. Follow up is ongoing.

Results

All HVs have received both doses and follow-up is currently through week 16 (12 weeks after second dose). Mean nadir for ANGPTL3 levels occurred 2 weeks after the second dose (−83–93%) with minimal change for 200 and 300 mg but 16% recovery for 100 mg at week 16. Mean TGs and VLDL-C reached nadir earlier (3 wks, −61–65%) without apparent dose response and minimal change for any dose at wk 16. LDL-C nadir occurred 4–6 wks after the second dose (−45–54%), again with minimal evidence for dose response or change through wk 16. HDL-C was reduced 14–37% at wk 16. ARO-ANG3 was well tolerated without serious or severe adverse events or dropouts related to drug. The most common adverse events have been headache and upper respiratory infections.

Conclusions

Genetic deficiency of ANGPTL3 is a cause of familial combined hypolipemia and is associated with a decreased risk of CVD. Using RNAi to selectively suppress ANGPTL3 production reproduces these genetic effects with a duration of at least 12 weeks following a second dose and with good tolerability over 16 wks. ANGPTL3 inhibition results in lowering of LDL-C and TRLs which may confer protection against CVD in patients with atherogenic mixed dyslipidemia.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

RNA interference targeting apolipoprotein C-III with ARO-APOC3 in healthy volunteers mimics lipid and lipoprotein findings seen in subjects with inherited apolipoprotein C-III deficiency

Background

Individuals with triglycerides (TGs) ≥1,000 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) are at increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Genetic studies indicate that individuals with apolipoprotein C-3 (APOC3) loss-of-function mutations have low TGs, reduced cardiovascular risk and no observed adverse phenotype. RNA interference (RNAi) with ARO-APOC3 has shown deep and durable knockdown (KD) of APOC3 after single doses in healthy volunteers (HVs, presented at AHA 2019) with good tolerability. We report here initial results using multiple doses of ARO-APOC3 to silence APOC3 expression in HVs.

Methods

ARO-APOC3 was administered subcutaneously to HVs on days 1 and 29 at doses of 10, 25 or 50 mg (n=4 per group). Measured parameters included plasma concentrations of APOC3, LDL-C, TGs, VLDL-C and HDL-C.

Results

All HVs have received both doses and follow-up for most parameters is available through week (wk) 14 (10 wks after second dose) for the 10 and 25 mg doses and through wk 10 for 50 mg. Mean nadir for APOC3 levels occurred at wk 3 for 10 mg (−73%) and remained similar at wk 10 (−66%), at wk 6 for 25 mg (−90%) with no change at wk 10 and at wk 2 for 50 mg (−94%) unchanged at wk 8. TGs fell faster in the 50 mg group (wk 1: 10 mg −41%; 25 mg −47%; 50 mg −72%). By wk 6 the 25 and 50 mg results were similar (−68% and −74%, respectively) and remained similar through wk 14. 10 mg was less active with a nadir of −56% and mean reductions between 42% and 56% post-nadir. VLDL-C values mirrored TGs. LDL-C reductions were more modest and did not manifest a dose response. Mean nadirs (−23–26%) occurred 4–6 wks after the first dose, again with minimal change through 10–14 wks of follow-up. Consistent with genetic studies, HDL-C increased to a maximum at approximately wk 8 (10 mg +42%, 25 mg +48%, 50 mg +84%). ARO-APOC3 was well tolerated without serious or severe adverse events or dropouts related to drug. The most common adverse events were mild injection site AEs and headache.

Conclusions

Genetic deficiency of APOC3 is associated with substantial reductions in TGs, VLDL-C and increases in HDL-C without an adverse phenotype. Using RNAi to selectively suppress APOC3 production mimics these lipid and lipoprotein effects, with a duration of at least 10 weeks following a second dose and with good tolerability over 16 wks using doses ranging from 10 to 50 mg. Investigation of optimal dosing regimen is ongoing, especially with respect to dosing interval. This therapeutic approach has potential for treating patients with chylomicronemia at risk of pancreatitis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

Performance of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays to Reflect Comorbidity Burden and Improve Mortality Risk Stratification in Older Adults With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Incorporation of comorbidity burden to inform diabetes management in older adults remains challenging. High-sensitivity cardiac troponins are objective, quantifiable biomarkers that may improve risk monitoring in older adults. We assessed the associations of elevations in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and T (hs-cTnT) with comorbidities and improvements in mortality risk stratification.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used logistic regression to examine associations of comorbidities with elevations in either troponin (≥85th percentile) among 1,835 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study with diabetes (ages 67-89 years, 43% male, 31% black) at visit 5 (2011-2013). We used Cox models to compare associations of high cardiac troponins with mortality across comorbidity levels.

RESULTS

Elevations in either troponin (≥9.4 ng/L for hs-cTnI, ≥25 ng/L for hs-cTnT) were associated with prevalent coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary disease, hypoglycemia, hypertension, dementia, and frailty. Over a median follow-up of 6.2 years (418 deaths), both high hs-cTnI and high hs-cTnT further stratified mortality risk beyond comorbidity levels; those with a high hs-cTnI or hs-cTnT and high comorbidity were at highest mortality risk. Even among those with low comorbidity, a high hs-cTnI (hazard ratio 3.0 [95% CI 1.7, 5.4]) or hs-cTnT (hazard ratio 3.3 [95% CI 1.8, 6.2]) was associated with elevated mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Many comorbidities were reflected by both hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT; elevations in either of the troponins were associated with higher mortality risk beyond comorbidity burden. High-sensitivity cardiac troponins may identify older adults at high mortality risk and be useful in guiding clinical care of older adults with diabetes.

Acute Tubular Injury in a Patient on a Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitor

A 72-year-old man with coronary artery disease, statin intolerance, and chronic kidney disease stage IIIa was initiated on alirocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor, and developed acute kidney injury. A kidney biopsy was performed and suggested acute tubular injury. The serum creatinine returned to baseline after discontinuation of alirocumab. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Spotlight from the American Society for Preventive Cardiology on Key Features of the 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guidelines on the Management of Blood Cholesterol

The 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol retains focus on recommendations for statin treatment in the original four statin-eligible groups [those with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 190 mg/dL, and higher risk primary prevention] without the use of treatment initiation or target LDL-C levels from the earlier 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline, but has several new features. First, patients with primary prevention are divided into those who are at low (< 5%), borderline (5% to < 7.5%), intermediate (7.5% to < 20%), and high (≥ 20%) risk based on the ASCVD risk estimator. Moreover, the new guideline goes further to consider a wider range of factors [now called "risk enhancers"-premature family history of ASCVD, persistently high LDL-C, chronic kidney disease (CKD), metabolic syndrome, conditions specific to women, inflammatory diseases, and high-risk ethnicities] that can be used to better inform the treatment decision. Moreover, more detailed recommendations on how the results of coronary calcium scanning can be used to inform the treatment decision are provided, including how it may be used to "de-risk" certain patients for delaying or avoiding the use of statin therapy. There are also specific sections for cholesterol management in other patient subgroups including women, children, certain ethnic groups, those with CKD, chronic inflammatory disorders and HIV, as well as discussion on the management of hypertriglyceridemia. Importantly, for persons with known ASCVD, a distinction is made for those who are at "very high risk" based on having had two major ASCVD events or one major event and two or more other high risk conditions, such as diabetes or other major risk factors, or bypass surgery or percutaneous intervention. Finally, the concept of a threshold LDL-C for initiating a non-statin therapy (after considering highest tolerated statin dosage) is provided, with ezetimibe recommended as the key non-statin to be added if the LDL-C still remains ≥ 70 mg/dL for all ASCVD patients, and in those who are at "very high risk", further consideration for using a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. While the new guideline does have greater detail (and arguably, complexity), the refinements provide a strategy for guiding the clinician to target both statin and non-statin therapy to those most likely to derive benefit.

Modulation of the interleukin-6 signalling pathway and incidence rates of atherosclerotic events and all-cause mortality: analyses from the Canakinumab Anti-Inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study (CANTOS)

Aims

Canakinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin (IL)-1β, reduces rates of recurrent cardiovascular events without lowering lipids. It is uncertain, however, to what extent these beneficial cardiovascular outcomes are mediated through interleukin-6 (IL-6) signalling, an issue with substantial pathophysiologic consequences and therapeutic implications.

Methods and results

A total of 4833 stable atherosclerosis patients in the Canakinumab Anti-Inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study (CANTOS) had IL-6 levels measured before randomization and after treatment with placebo or one of three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg) given subcutaneously once every 3 months. Participants were followed for up to 5 years (median follow-up 3.7 years). Compared with those allocated to placebo, CANTOS participants receiving canakinumab who achieved on-treatment IL-6 levels below the study median value of 1.65 ng/L experienced a 32% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE, multivariable adjusted hazard ratio (HRadj) 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.82; P < 0.0001], a 30% reduction in MACE plus the additional endpoint of hospitalization for unstable angina requiring urgent revascularization (MACE+, HRadj 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.84; P < 0.0001), a 52% reduction in cardiovascular mortality (HRadj 0.48, 95% CI 0.34-0.68; P < 0.0001), and a 48% reduction in all-cause mortality (HRadj 0.52, 95% CI 0.40-0.68; P < 0.0001) with prolonged treatment. In contrast, those with on-treatment IL-6 levels equal to or above 1.65 ng/L after taking the first dose of canakinumab had no significant benefit for any of these endpoints. These differential findings based on the magnitude of IL-6 response were seen in analyses alternatively based on tertiles of on-treatment IL-6 levels, and in analyses using a statistical inference approach to estimate the effect of treatment among individuals who would achieve a targeted IL-6 level.

Conclusion

CANTOS provides proof of concept evidence in humans that modulation of the IL-6 signalling pathway, at least with canakinumab, associates with reduced cardiovascular event rates, independent of lipid lowering.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01327846.

Multi-ancestry sleep-by-SNP interaction analysis in 126,926 individuals reveals lipid loci stratified by sleep duration

Both short and long sleep are associated with an adverse lipid profile, likely through different biological pathways. To elucidate the biology of sleep-associated adverse lipid profile, we conduct multi-ancestry genome-wide sleep-SNP interaction analyses on three lipid traits (HDL-c, LDL-c and triglycerides). In the total study sample (discovery + replication) of 126,926 individuals from 5 different ancestry groups, when considering either long or short total sleep time interactions in joint analyses, we identify 49 previously unreported lipid loci, and 10 additional previously unreported lipid loci in a restricted sample of European-ancestry cohorts. In addition, we identify new gene-sleep interactions for known lipid loci such as LPL and PCSK9. The previously unreported lipid loci have a modest explained variance in lipid levels: most notable, gene-short-sleep interactions explain 4.25% of the variance in triglyceride level. Collectively, these findings contribute to our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in sleep-associated adverse lipid profiles.

Sleep duration is associated with an adverse lipid profile. Here, the authors perform genome-wide gene-by-sleep interaction analysis and find 49 previously unreported lipid loci when considering short or long total sleep time.