Prevalence of poor lipid control in patients with premature coronary artery disease

Lipid goals have become more stringent in high risk patients. However, no studies have analyzed lipid control defined as the composite achievement of goals in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non-HDL-C) and apolipoproteinB-100 (ApoB-100), in patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to analyze lipid control rates, and the associated factors with its poor achievement in patients with premature CAD.

The study included 1196 patients with CAD diagnosed before 55 and 65 years old in men and women, respectively. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (non-strict) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (strict) criteria were used to analyze lipid control rates. Sociodemographic, dietary-healthy and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected. Participants were 54 ± 8 years old, 19.7% were women, and median CAD evolution was 2.4 years. Non-strict and strict lipid control was achieved in 23.0% and 8.9% of the patients, respectively. Moreover, 46.5% and 62.8% of the patients did not achieve any lipid goal using both criteria. Sociodemographic data were not different among patients who achieved or not lipid control. Treatment adherence<85%, prescription of low- and moderate-intensity statins, and obesity were consistently associated with poor lipid control.

Lipid control is suboptimal in patients with premature CAD. Low lipid-lowering treatment adherence, low prescription of high-intensity statins, and obesity were independently associated with poor lipid control. Novel preventive programs and more aggressive pharmacological intervention should be implemented in order to reduce the burden of premature CAD.