Efficacy and safety of alirocumab in statin-intolerant patients over 3 years: open-label treatment period of the ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE trial.

Background: The 24-week randomized, double-blind ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE trial (NCT01709513) demonstrated significant low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions with the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab vs ezetimibe in statin-intolerant patients, with significantly fewer skeletal muscle events (SMEs; 32.5%) vs atorvastatin (46.0%; hazard ratio: 0.

Inverse relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol raising and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein reduction in older patients treated with lipid-lowering therapy.

Background: Little is known regarding relationships between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipoproteins other than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). High-density lipoprotein (HDL), with both anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-mediating effects, is of particular interest. This exploratory analysis assessed associations between hsCRP and lipids in older (>65 years) patients with moderate and/or high cardiovascular disease risk, before and after treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) or atorvastatin (ATV).

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab vs ezetimibe in statin-intolerant patients, with a statin rechallenge arm: The ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE randomized trial.

Background: Statin intolerance limits many patients from achieving optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. Current options for such patients include using a lower but tolerated dose of a statin and adding or switching to ezetimibe or other non-statin therapies.

Methods: ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE (NCT01709513) compared alirocumab with ezetimibe in patients at moderate to high cardiovascular risk with statin intolerance (unable to tolerate ≥2 statins, including one at the lowest approved starting dose) due to muscle symptoms.

Atorvastatin 10 mg plus ezetimibe versus titration to atorvastatin 40 mg: attainment of European and Canadian guideline lipid targets in high-risk subjects ≥65 years.

Background: Few clinical studies have focused on the efficacy of lipid-lowering therapies in patients ≥65 years.

Methods: After stabilization on atorvastatin 10 mg, hypercholesterolemic subjects ≥65 years at high/very high risk for CHD and not at LDL-C <1.81 mmol/L (with atherosclerotic vascular disease [AVD]) or <2.

Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol reporting and goal attainment in primary care.

Background: The Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines established non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) as a secondary treatment target. However, non-HDL-C levels are not reported on standard lipid panels by many hospital-based and/or commercial biochemical laboratories.

Objective: We determined whether reporting non-HDL-C was associated with improved non-HDL-C goal attainment.