Alirocumab after acute coronary syndrome in patients with a history of heart failure

Eur Heart J. 2022 Apr 19;43(16):1554-1565. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab804.

Abstract

Aims: Patients with heart failure (HF) have not been shown to benefit from statins. In a post hoc analysis, we evaluated outcomes in ODYSSEY OUTCOMES in patients with vs. without a history of HF randomized to the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab or placebo.

Methods and results: Among 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving intensive or maximum-tolerated statin treatment, the primary outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was compared in patients with or without a history of HF. The pre-specified secondary outcome of hospitalization for HF was also analysed. Overall, 2815 (14.9%) patients had a history of HF. Alirocumab reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) similarly in patients with or without HF. Overall, alirocumab reduced MACE compared with placebo [hazard ratio (HR): 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-0.93; P = 0.0001]. This effect was observed among patients without a history of HF (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.70-0.86; P < 0.0001), but not in those with a history of HF (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.97-1.40; P = 0.10) (Pinteraction = 0.0001). Alirocumab did not reduce hospitalization for HF, overall or in patients with or without prior HF.

Conclusion: Alirocumab reduced MACE in patients without a history of HF but not in patients with a history of HF. Alirocumab did not reduce hospitalizations for HF in either group. Patients with a history of HF are a high-risk group that does not appear to benefit from PCSK9 inhibition after ACS.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndromes; Alirocumab; Heart failure; MACE; ODYSSEY OUTCOMES.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / chemically induced
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / complications
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Anticholesteremic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Heart Failure* / chemically induced
  • Heart Failure* / complications
  • Heart Failure* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Proprotein Convertase 9 / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • PCSK9 protein, human
  • Proprotein Convertase 9
  • alirocumab