Rapid achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals within 1 month after acute coronary syndrome during combination therapy with rosuvastatin, ezetimibe and bempedoic acid: Initial experience from the LAI-REACT study

J Clin Lipidol. 2024 Sep-Oct;18(5):e867-e872. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2024.06.001. Epub 2024 Jun 6.

Abstract

Rapid reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to target levels immediately following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event is critical to prevent future events. High-dose statins alone often fail to achieve LDL-C goals. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) combined with high-dose statins improves LDL-C goal attainment, but is unaffordable for many patients in India and worldwide. In a real-world open-label study, we demonstrated in a cohort of 122 patients with ACS, concurrent triple therapy with rosuvastatin 40 mg/d, ezetimibe 10 mg/d, and bempedoic acid 180 mg/d (REB) started at the time of hospital admission was associated with 57.7%, 61.7%, 61.9% and 60.6% reductions in LDL-C from 115.6 mg/dl at baseline to 48.9 mg/dl at week 1, 44.3 mg/dl at week 2, 44.1 mg/dl at week 4, and 45.6 mg/dl at week 6, respectively (each p < 0.001 compared to baseline; p < 0.001 across repeated measures). REB provided significant reductions in LDL-C within as early as one week and enabled 76.3% and 92.2% of patients to achieve the Lipid Association of India and American College of Cardiology recommended LDL-C targets of <50 mg/dl and <70 mg/dl within 2-weeks, respectively, which were sustained at 4-6 weeks. REB was generally well tolerated. Our study demonstrates the capacity to rapidly achieve LDL-C goals after ACS with triple REB therapy, an affordable regimen in India.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Bempedoic acid; Ezetimibe; LDL-C goal; Rosuvastatin; Triple drug therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / blood
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Aged
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cholesterol, LDL* / blood
  • Dicarboxylic Acids* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination*
  • Ezetimibe* / therapeutic use
  • Fatty Acids* / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Ezetimibe
  • 8-hydroxy-2,2,14,14-tetramethylpentadecanedioic acid
  • Dicarboxylic Acids
  • Fatty Acids
  • Anticholesteremic Agents