Sex specific analysis of patients with and without reported statin intolerance referred to a specialized outpatient lipid clinic.

BACKGROUND

Lowering LDL-cholesterol is a fundamental goal for both primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Our study aims to analyse potential sex disparities regarding the tolerability and effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with and without reported statin intolerance who are being treated at a lipid-outpatient clinic.

METHODS

From 2017 to 2022, n = 1062 patients (n = 612 men, n = 450 women) at high-risk were referred to our lipid-outpatient clinic because of difficulties in lipid control by primary healthcare providers. The main therapeutic objective was to optimize lipid-lowering therapy according to current treatment guidelines.

RESULTS

Patients presented with high LDL-C baseline levels (4.97 ± 1.81 mmol/l (192 ± 70 mg/dL) in men and 5.46 ± 2.04 mmol/l (211 ± 79 mg/dL) in women). Intolerance towards statins was reported more frequently by women (48.2%) than by men (38.9%, p = 0.004). LDL-C continuously decreased with individual treatment adjustments across follow-up visits. In total, treatment goals (LDL < 1.4 mmol/l (< 55 mg/dl) or < 1.8 mmol/l (< 70 mg/dl)) were accomplished in 75.8% of men and 55.5% of women after the last follow-up visit (p < 0.0001). In men, these data are almost identical in subjects with statin intolerance. In contrast, treatment goals were reached less frequently in women with statin intolerance compared to women tolerant to statin therapy.

CONCLUSION

Even if treated in a specialized lipid clinic, women are less likely to reach their target LDL-C than men, particularly when statin intolerant. Nevertheless, many patients with statin intolerance can be successfully treated using oral combination and PCSK9 inhibitor therapy. However, ongoing follow-up care to monitor progress and to adjust treatment plans is necessary to reach this goal.

We investigated patients at high cardiovascular risk who were referred to our specialized lipid outpatient clinic because of elevated lipid levels and difficulties in lipid-lowering treatment in the primary care setting. The primary goal of such a clinic is to help patients to achieve optimal lipid levels through personalized treatment plans. We focused on prescription behavior and differences in treatment tolerability and effectiveness between men and women.A large proportion of patients (more frequently women (48.2%) than men (38.9%)) reported intolerance towards statins and most patients’ LDL-cholesterol levels were far away from treatment goals. However, when treated at a specialized lipid clinic providing ongoing follow-up care to monitor progress and to adjust treatment plans if necessary, many of those patients were able to tolerate lipid lowering medication to achieve better lipid control and to maintain their lipid levels within target ranges.However, women were less likely to reach LDL-cholesterol treatment targets compared to men, especially if they reported intolerance towards statins. Ongoing follow-up care to monitor progress and to adjust treatment plans is necessary to reach treatment goals.

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© 2024. The Author(s).