Key result
Very low LDL-C under statin therapy linked to ~56% lower risk of major CV events.
Why the study?
Does achieving very low levels of atherogenic lipoproteins with statin therapy reduce major cardiovascular events in patients on statin therapy?
Meta-Analysis (n=38,153)
Yes
Does achieving very low levels of atherogenic lipoproteins with statin therapy reduce major cardiovascular events in patients on statin therapy?
Hazard Ratio: 0.44 (95% CI 0.35–0.55)
Achieving very low LDL-C levels (<50 mg/dl) with statin therapy is associated with a significantly lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to higher LDL-C levels.
BACKGROUND Levels of atherogenic lipoproteins achieved with statin therapy are highly variable, but the consequence of this variability for cardiovascular disease risk is not well-documented. OBJECTIVES The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate: 1) the interindividual variability of reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), or apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels achieved with statin therapy; 2) the proportion of patients not reaching guideline-recommended lipid levels on high-dose statin therapy; and 3) the association between very low levels of atherogenic lipoproteins achieved with statin therapy and cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS This meta-analysis used individual patient data from 8 randomized controlled statin trials, in which conventional lipids and apolipoproteins were determined in all study participants at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS Among 38,153 patients allocated to statin therapy, a total of 6,286 major cardiovascular events occurred in 5,387 study participants during follow-up. There was large interindividual variability in the reductions of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB achieved with a fixed statin dose. More than 40% of trial participants assigned to high-dose statin therapy did not reach an LDL-C target <70 mg/dl. Compared with patients who achieved an LDL-C >175 mg/dl, those who reached an LDL-C 75 to <100 mg/dl, 50 to <75 mg/dl, and <50 mg/dl had adjusted hazard ratios for major cardiovascular events of 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46 to 0.67), 0.51 (95% CI: 0.42 to 0.62), and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.35 to 0.55), respectively. Similar associations were observed for non-HDL-C and apoB. CONCLUSIONS The reductions of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB levels achieved with statin therapy displayed large interindividual variation. Among trial participants treated with high-dose statin therapy, >40% did not reach an LDL-C target <70 mg/dl. Patients who achieve very low LDL-C levels have a lower risk for major cardiovascular events than do those achieving moderately low levels.
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Boekholdt et al. (2014) conducted a meta-analysis in Cardiovascular disease (n=38,153). Achieved LDL-C <50 mg/dl on statin therapy vs. Achieved LDL-C >175 mg/dl was evaluated on Major cardiovascular events (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.55). Achieving very low LDL-C levels (<50 mg/dl) with statin therapy was associated with a lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to LDL-C >175 mg/dl (HR 0.44; 95% CI 0.35-0.55).
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