Real-world Analyses of Patients With Elevated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk From the Optum Research Database
Peter P. Tóth, Michael Hüll, Craig Granowitz, Sephy Philip
Abstract
More than 56 million Americans have hypertriglyceridemia, including over 12 million statin-treated individuals. However, the contribution of elevated and high triglyceride levels to cardiovascular disease and death has not been extensively studied using real-world analyses. We review recent analyses of the Optum Research Database, which included patients aged ≥45 years with diabetes and/or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and on statin therapy. Triglyceride levels ≥150 and 200-499 mg/dl were significantly associated with a 25.8 and 34.9% increased relative risk of cardiovascular events, respectively, versus patients with triglyceride levels <150 mg/dl. In addition, hypertriglyceridemia predicted peripheral arterial revascularization, new heart failure diagnosis and new-onset renal disease. Increased triglyceride levels were also significantly associated with increased healthcare resource utilization and costs. Interventions such as icosapent ethyl reduce triglycerides and associated cardiovascular disease risk.