Cardiovascular Efficacy and Safety of PCSK9 Inhibitors: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Including the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Trial

Abstract

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are efficacious lipid-lowering agents, but more precise estimates of their effects on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), mortality, and safety are needed. We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed randomized controlled trials with durations ≥ 6 months comparing MACE, mortality, and safety with PCSK9 inhibitors vs control. We searched CENTRAL, Embase, MedLine and the grey literature to November 7, 2018. From 2048 articles, we included 23 trials (n = 60,723). PCSK9 inhibitors reduced MACE (relative risk, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.88), but did not clearly reduce mortality (relative risk, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.02) or increase adverse events. In conclusion, PCSK9 inhibitors reduce nonfatal MACE, are well tolerated, but effects on mortality remain unclear.