Attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal after endovascular treatment is associated with reduced cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Abstract

Objective: The relationship between attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and clinical outcomes in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has received little attention. We sought to investigate clinical outcomes in relation to attainment of LDL-C goals in patients with PAD after endovascular treatment.

Methods: We reviewed 342 PAD patients treated with endovascular therapy from 2010 through 2012. We categorized patients into two groups based on the attained LDL-C levels at short-term follow-up (mean, 4.8 ± 2.8 months): group A (n = 160), with LDL-C <70 mg/dL; and group B (n = 182), with LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke.

Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between group A and group B except for obstructive pulmonary disease (0% vs 7%; P = .001). More patients in group A received statin therapy than those in group B (93% vs 76%; P < .001). MACEs (4% vs 10%; P = .002) and all-cause mortality (2% vs 7%; P = .007) occurred less frequently in group A than in group B at 2 years. A Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression model identified attainment of LDL-C goal <70 mg/dL at short-term follow-up as an independent predictor of reduced MACEs (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.67; P = .006) along with age as a predictor of increased MACEs (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.08; P = .031).

Conclusions: Attainment of LDL-C goal <70 mg/dL at short-term follow-up is an independent predictor of reduced mortality and cardiovascular events after endovascular therapy in patients with PAD.