PCSK9 Inhibitors & Ezetimibe: Lowering Heart Risk Beyond Statins
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This BMJ study shows that adding PCSK9 inhibitors or ezetimibe to standard statin therapy can lower the chance of having a heart attack or stroke—especially in people at high risk for heart disease. Though the results were positive, the benefits were modest and only valid for those at high risk. For example, in high-risk patients, PCSK9 inhibitors can reduce heart attacks by about 12 fewer events per 1000 people over five years. So over 5 years, your absolute risk of having a heart attack was reduced by 1.2% or 0.24% per year. And strokes were reduced by about 16 fewer events per 1000 people. That’s a 1.6% absolute reduction in strokes over 5 years or a 0.32% absolute risk reduction per year. For low or moderate risk patients, the benefits were essentially non-existent.
