Cardiovascular studies present new findings on cholesterol treatments

New clinical data presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich highlights significant findings regarding cholesterol management and cardiovascular prevention.

Results from the multinational MILOS study indicate that bempedoic acid, used as monotherapy or in fixed-dose combination with ezetimibe, leads to clinically relevant reductions in LDL cholesterol. In a real-world analysis of 960 patients, the treatment was associated with an estimated 17.1% relative reduction in 10-year cardiovascular risk. LDL cholesterol reductions averaged at least 24.9% after one year, with a 31% reduction observed in women compared to 25% in men. These effects remained consistent regardless of glycemic status, including patients with diabetes.

Additionally, the STAREE study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined the use of atorvastatin for primary prevention in healthy individuals aged 70 and older. The randomized controlled trial involving 9,971 participants found that daily 40 mg doses of atorvastin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, by 30% compared to a placebo. However, the study noted no significant differences between the treatment and placebo groups regarding the risk of death, dementia, or physical disability.