BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend nonstatin lipid-lowering agents in patients at very high risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) if low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remains ≥70 mg/dL on maximum tolerated statin treatment. It is uncertain if this approach benefits patients with LDL-C near 70 mg/dL. Lipoprotein(a) levels may influence residual risk. OBJECTIVES In a post hoc analysis of the ODYSSEY Outcomes (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) trial, the authors evaluated the benefit of adding the proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab to optimized statin treatment in patients with LDL-C levels near 70 mg/dL. Effects were evaluated according to concurrent lipoprotein(a) levels. METHODS ODYSSEY Outcomes compared alirocumab with placebo in 18,924 patients with recent acute coronary syndromes receiving optimized statin treatment. In 4,351 patients (23.0%), screening or randomization LDL-C was <70 mg/dL (median 69.4 mg/dL; interquartile range: 64.3–74.0 mg/dL); in 14,573 patients (77.0%), both determinations were ≥70 mg/dL (median 94.0 mg/dL; interquartile range: 83.2–111.0 mg/dL). RESULTS In the lower LDL-C subgroup, MACE rates were 4.2 and 3.1 per 100 patient-years among placebo-treated patients with baseline lipoprotein(a) greater than or less than or equal to the median (13.7 mg/dL). Corresponding adjusted treatment hazard ratios were 0.68 (95% confidence interval [Cl]: 0.52–0.90) and 1.11 (95% Cl: 0.83–1.49), with treatment-lipoprotein(a) interaction on MACE ( P interaction = 0.017). In the higher LDL-C subgroup, MACE rates were 4.7 and 3.8 per 100 patient-years among placebo-treated patients with lipoprotein(a) >13.7 mg/dL or ≤13.7 mg/dL; corresponding adjusted treatment hazard ratios were 0.82 (95% Cl: 0.72–0.92) and 0.89 (95% Cl: 0.75–1.06), with P interaction = 0.43. CONCLUSIONS In patients with recent acute coronary syndromes and LDL-C near 70 mg/dL on optimized statin therapy, proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibition provides incremental clinical benefit only when lipoprotein(a) concentration is at least mildly elevated. (ODYSSEY Outcomes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab; NCT01663402 )

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In older age, patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a high risk of stroke, bleeding, and death, but such patients have been underrepresented in randomized clinical trials. A search and analysis of 4 176 literature sources from the MEDLINE/ PubMed  and eLIBRARY  databases  was carried out for the keywords  «atrial fibrillation», «old age», «older», «elderly». The review includes  the most important  studies reflecting  the current understanding of risk factors for development, complications and treatment of AF in old age. The results of therapy to control the ventricular rate, to control sinus rhythm in AF with  drugs  and  catheter  ablation  are discussed. The data of studies  on the prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with AF by the use of anticoagulants and implantable devices are considered.

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the strongest independent risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Their combination is increasingly common, creating a high risk of complications and poor outcome in patients. A search and analysis of 8907 literature sources from the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed/MedLine, The CochraneLibrary databases was carried out for the keywords "diabetes mellitus", "atrial fibrillation", "glycemic control", "hypoglycemic therapy". The review presents current ideas about the mechanisms underlying the development of AF in DM, as well as the effect of certain classes of hypoglycemic and other drugs on the risk of AF, some features of the treatment of AF in combination with DM.