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A study in high-risk, maximally pretreated patients to determine the potential use of PCSK9 inhibitors at various thresholds of total and LDL cholesterol levels.
- Source :
-
Postgraduate medical journal [Postgrad Med J] 2017 Apr; Vol. 93 (1098), pp. 205-208. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Aug 16. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Purpose of the Study: Statins and ezetimibe reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors lower LDL-c by 50%-70% and might be useful in refractory patients. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidance (TAG) recommends use of these drugs in secondary prevention and familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) at differing LDL-c thresholds. We have estimated the proportion of patients in whom this third-line drug might be useful.<br />Study Design: We used data from a lipid-lowering audit programme to study 72 with FH and/or CVD of 271 patients referred over 12 months who failed to achieve target total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-c levels. All 72 patients were treated with ezetimibe, and 69 cases also received statins. We used LDL-c thresholds 1.5-5.5 mmol/L to estimate how many of these refractory patients could benefit from PCSK9 inhibitors.<br />Results: In 72 patients, TC and LDL-c targets were not met by 64 and 53 patients, respectively. We judged using the NICE TAG that only one patient (1.4% ezetimibe requiring and 0.4% total referrals) required a PCSK9 inhibitor.<br />Conclusions: We determined that the proportion of patients eligible for a PCSK9 inhibitor at various TC and LDL-c levels is modest. This may reflect the use of all available statins in UK lipid clinics often at non-daily frequency. We suggest that cost-effective use of PCSK9 inhibitors requires prescribing being restricted to clinicians working in specialised lipid clinics.<br /> (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)
- Subjects :
- Anticholesteremic Agents economics
Cardiovascular Diseases blood
Cholesterol, LDL drug effects
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Ezetimibe economics
Female
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia blood
Hypercholesterolemia complications
Male
Practice Patterns, Physicians' economics
Secondary Prevention economics
United Kingdom
Anticholesteremic Agents therapeutic use
Cardiovascular Diseases prevention & control
Cholesterol, LDL blood
Ezetimibe therapeutic use
Hypercholesterolemia drug therapy
PCSK9 Inhibitors
Practice Patterns, Physicians' statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1469-0756
- Volume :
- 93
- Issue :
- 1098
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Postgraduate medical journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27531965
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2016-134062