PCSK9 inhibitors for secondary prevention in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a bayesian network meta-analysis

Abstract

Background The Food and Drug Administration has approved Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors for the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, evidence of the optimal PCSK9 agents targeting PCSK9 for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events is lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the benefit and safety of different types of PCSK9 inhibitors. Methods Several databases including Cochrane Central, Ovid Medline, and Ovid Embase were searched from inception until March 30, 2022 without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing administration of PCSK9 inhibitors with placebo or ezetimibe for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with statin-background therapy were identified. The primary efficacy outcome was all-cause mortality. The primary safety outcome was serious adverse events. Results Overall, nine trials totaling 54,311 patients were identified. Three types of PCSK9 inhibitors were evaluated. The use of alirocumab was associated with reductions in all-cause mortality compared with control (RR 0.83, 95% CrI 0.72–0.95). Moreover, evolocumab was associated with increased all-cause mortality compared with alirocumab (RR 1.26, 95% CrI 1.04–1.52). We also found alirocumab was associated with decreased risk of serious adverse events (RR 0.94, 95% CrI 0.90–0.99). Conclusions In consideration of the fact that both PCSK9 monoclonal antibody and inclisiran enable patients to achieve recommended LDL-C target, the findings in this meta-analysis suggest that alirocumab might provide the optimal benefits regarding all-cause mortality with relatively lower SAE risks, and evolocumab might provide the optimal benefits regarding myocardial infarction for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events. Further head-to-head trials with longer follow-up and high methodologic quality are warranted to help inform subsequent guidelines for the management of these patients.

The inhibition of Evolocumab on Non-Infarct-Related Artery Disease in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

“…It was reported that the use of alirocumab was associated with reductions in all-cause mortality compared with control, while evolocumab was associated with increased all-cause mortality compared with alirocumab. These results suggest that alirocumab might provide the optimal bene ts regarding all-cause mortality with relatively lower SAE risks, and evolocumab might provide the optimal bene ts regarding myocardial infarction for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events 40 . Further research con rmed that inclisiran also has a potent lipid-lowering effect 41 .…”

Association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and sudden cardiac arrest in people with diabetes mellitus

“…Moreover, prolonged lowering of LDL-cholesterol is associated with lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [ 25 ]. Accordingly, “the lower, the better” paradigm has introduced potent lipid lowering strategies in clinical field, including ezetimibe and proprotein convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 inhibitors in addition to statin therapy [ 26 ].…”

Clinical potential of inclisiran for patients with a high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

“…Additionally, the results of the ORION-3 trial showed well-tolerated safety profile consistent with other trials during 4 years of follow-up [ 44 ]. The network meta-analysis of PCSK9 inhibitors revealed that inclisiran was identified as the top ranked drug in association with less serious adverse events by the surface under the cumulative ranking curve, and there were no findings that LDL-C lowering therapies with PCSK9 mAbs and inclisiran were associated with new-onset diabetes and neurocognitive disorders [ 55 ].…”