Updated treatment thresholds in the 2019 ESC/EAS dyslipidaemia guidelines substantially expand indications for statin use for primary prevention at population level: results from the Rotterdam Study

Abstract

Abstract Background In the recent update of the ESC/EAS practice guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias, indications for statin treatment in primary prevention have been expanded to those at lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and with lower LDL levels, as well as to those 65 to 75 years of age according to their level of predicted CVD risk. Purpose To compare the implications of the 2016 and 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines and determine the extent to which these updates affect treatment recommendations at population level. Methods We calculated 10-year CVD risk following the 2016 and 2019 ESC/EAS guideline recommendations and proportions of individuals qualifying for statin treatment categories per guideline. The study population included 7262 participants free of CVD, aged 45 to 75 years, from the Dutch prospective population-based Rotterdam Study. Results Mean (SD) age was 61.1 (6.9) years and 58.2% were women. Diabetes was present in 8.4% of the participants, 24.7% were smokers, mean LDL was 3.7 (0.9) mmol/L, and mean blood pressure was 137/80 (20/11) mmHg. Next to lifestyle changes, the 2016 and 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines recommend statin treatment in 13.2% (N=961) and 37.7% (N=2738) of the total population and consider statin treatment in 37.0% (N=2689) and 51.4% (N=3733), respectively. When stratified by 5-year age groups, the 2016 and 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines overall suggest a respective 29.7% (N=411) and 60.7% (N=839) of adults aged 45–55 years to be considered for statin treatment. While adults with an estimated 10-year SCORE risk of fatal CVD <1% and LDL <4.9 mmol/L were deemed to be at sufficiently low risk in the 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines and hence were suggested only lifestyle advice to modify their cardiovascular risk, in the 2019 update, 517 individuals (i.e. 37.4% of 1383 adults aged 45–55 years) were considered for statin treatment. The 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines did not provide treatment recommendations for individuals aged >65 years, while the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines recommend statin treatment in 69.2% (N=1430) and considers treatment in another 27.7% (N=571) among the study population aged 65–75 years (N=2065). Conclusions Updated treatment recommendations in the 2019 ESC/EAS dyslipidaemia guideline substantially expand statin treatment to asymptomatic individuals aged 45–55 at low risk, and individuals aged 65–75 years. Whether the broadening of statin indications in asymptomatic low-risk individuals and those aged 65–75 years will lead to greater uptake of primary prevention efforts and thereby long-term lowering of the burden of CVD in Europe, remains to be investigated. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None