Diabetes Mellitus and High Triglycerides Are Significant Predictors of Major Cardiovascular Events and Increased Health Care Costs and Resource Utilization—A Real-World Analysis of High-Risk Statin-Treated Patients

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. We investigated real-world impact of high triglycerides (TG) and diabetes on cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and costs. Methods: This retrospective administrative claims multivariate analysis (controlled for patient characteristics and comorbidities) of the Optum Research Database included patients aged ≥45 years with diabetes and/or ASCVD who had a statin prescription filled in 2010, had continuous medical/pharmacy coverage, and were followed for ≥6 months up to March 2016. Patients with TG 200-499 mg/dL (n=13,411) and a comparator cohort with TG <150 mg/dL and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) >40 mg/dL (n=32,506) were included. Results: Multivariate analyses showed a 35% higher rate of occurrence of composite major CV events per unit time in the high-TG vs. comparator cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 1.349, 95% CI 1.225-1.485, P<0.001). Diabetes was found to be a significant predictor of CV events, costs, and risk of inpatient hospital stay (Table). Conclusions: In statin-treated patients with high CV risk, high TG and diabetes were found to be significant predictors of worse CV and health economic outcomes in a real-world setting. Disclosure P.P. Toth: Speaker's Bureau; Self; Amarin Corporation. Consultant; Self; Amarin Corporation. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Amgen Inc.. Consultant; Self; Amgen Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.. Consultant; Self; Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.. Consultant; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Consultant; Self; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Sanofi US, Novo Nordisk Inc. C.B. Granowitz: Employee; Self; Amarin Corporation. M. Hull: None. S. Philip: Stock/Shareholder; Self; Amarin Corporation. Employee; Self; Amarin Corporation.