Real-world analyses of patients with elevated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk from the Optum Research Database.

Abstract

More than 56million Americans have hypertriglyceridemia, including over 12million 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 ≥45years with diabetes and/or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and on statin therapy. Triglyceride levels ≥150and 200-499mg/dl were significantly associated with a 25.8and 34.9% increased relative risk of cardiovascular events, respectively, versus patients with triglyceride levels <150mg/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.