Background:

High-intensity statin (HIS) therapy is widely recommended for secondary prevention after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) dyslipidemia guidelines have lowered the target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, which necessitates a more frequent use of non-statin therapies.

Objectives:

The objectives of the study were to investigate the rate of LDL-C target attainment for secondary prevention in AMI patients.

Methods:

This retrospective investigation included 1360 patients diagnosed with AMI in a tertiary heart center. Lipid parameters were collected within 24 h of admission and within 1 year after discharge. The medications used were retrieved from medical records, and the lowest LDL-C levels after statin treatment were used to assess the effectiveness of the therapy. LDL-C target attainment was defined according to the 2016 ESC/EAS dyslipidemia guidelines as an LDL-C level of < 70 mg/dL and a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline. In addition, the rate of LDL-C target attainment according to the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines was defined as an LDL-C level of < 55 mg/dL and a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline.

Results:

In total, 502 (36.9%) and 247 (18.2%) patients reached the LDL-C targets according to the 2016 and 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines, respectively. The admission LDL-C levels were significantly lower and HIS treatment was used more frequently in patients who subsequently attained the LDL-C goal. Remarkably, 461 (34%) patients failed to reach the LDL-C goals despite HIS treatment. Only 27 (1.9%) patients were prescribed ezetimibe.

Conclusion:

The rate of LDL-C goal attainment in AMI patients was low, which indicates the need for combination statin and non-statin lipid-lowering therapies.

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