ALERT: Individuals Had More Heart Attacks and Strokes When Cholesterol-lowering Drug Prescription Was Rejected or Unfilled
PASADENA, Calif., July 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — New research from the FH Foundation highlights that individuals at high risk for cardiovascular events, including those with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), experienced more heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events when they were unable to obtain their prescribed PCSK9 inhibitor (PCSK9i), a cholesterol-lowering treatment. The new study, published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, found that high-risk individuals had a 16 percent increased risk of a cardiovascular event during the 11.5-month study period when their PCSK9is were rejected by their insurance plan.i
High cholesterol is a major risk for heart disease, which is the number one cause of illness and death in the United States. Statins are the first-line treatment to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduce the risk for cardiovascular events, but for some, including many with FH, that is not enough. PCSK9is have been shown to lower LDL-C and improve cardiovascular outcomes in multiple large randomized trials, yet many individuals prescribed a PCSK9i by their doctor are unable to obtain treatment.
To learn more, see the full press release, infographic and report summary.
View the full press release