Gitt AK, et al. – Researchers sought to determine low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target value attainment, utilization of lipid–lowering therapy (LLT), and cardiovascular outcomes in the participants of the Dyslipidemia International Study II (DYSIS II) suffering from stable coronary heart disease (CHD) or an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Findings suggested huge potential of more intensive LLT for improving cardiovascular outcome as it was observed that among study participants with very high–risk, few achieved the LDL–C target.

Methods

• Patients from 18 countries were enrolled in DYSIS II.
• Only those patients with either stable CHD or an ACS were enrolled who were ≥18 years old and had a full lipid profile available.
• Data were collected at a physician visit (CHD cohort) or at hospital admission and 120 days later (ACS cohort).

Results

• Data reported that overall 10,661 patients were enrolled, 6794 with stable CHD and 3867 with an ACS.
• Findings demonstrated that mean LDL-C levels were low at 88 mg/dl and 108 mg/dl for the CHD and ACS cohorts respectively, with only 29.4% and 18.9% displaying a level below 70 mg/dl.
• Researchers noted that LLT was utilized by 93.8% of the CHD cohort, with a mean daily statin dosage of 25 ± 18 mg.
• They also observed that the proportion of the ACS cohort treated with LLT rose from 65.2% at admission to 95.6% at follow-up.
• In addition, data highlighted that LLT-treated patients who were female, obese, or current smokers were less likely to achieve an LDL-C level of <70 mg/dl, while those with type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or those taking a higher statin dosage were more likely.