Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertriglyceridemic Patients With Statin-Controlled LDL Cholesterol

Abstract

Context: Real-world evidence of the relationship between high triglyceride (TG) levels and cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) risk among statin-treated patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control is lacking.

Objective: We aimed to compare CVD and mortality risk between patients with high vs normal TGs.

Design: Longitudinal observational cohort study.

Setting: Integrated delivery system.

Patients: Patients aged ≥45 years whose TG level was either <150 mg/dL (normal) or between 200 and 499 mg/dL (high) in 2010, were taking only statins, had LDL-C values 40 to 100 mg/dL, and had diagnosed CVD.

Outcome measures: Patients were followed through December 2016. Our primary outcomes were a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke, unstable angina, coronary revascularization, and all-cause mortality and a second composite adding peripheral revascularization and aneurysm repair. We compared multivariable-adjusted incidence rates and rate ratios (RRs) of the outcomes and their components.

Results: A total of 14,481 patients comprised the normal TG group, and 2702 patients were in the high TG group. Multivariable-adjusted incidence of the second composite was 10% greater in the high TG group [50.9/1000 person-years, 95% CI 47.0 to 55.2 vs 46.5, 44.8 to 48.2, RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.20, P = 0.041]. The difference was driven by nonfatal MI (RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.45, P = 0.045), coronary revascularization (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.40, P = 0.045), and peripheral revascularization (RR 1.56, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.13, P = 0.006).

Conclusions: CVD risk in high-risk statin-treated patients with atherosclerotic CVD was associated with high TG levels.