Asia-Pacific Real-World Evolocumab Use, LDL-C Reduction, Physician Goals, and Patient Perceptions: HALES...

Real-world data are needed to understand the effectiveness of new therapeutic options for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction in Asia-Pacific clinical practice. Description of evolocumab use among adults with establisHed Atherosclerotic cardiovascuLar diseasE or hypercholesterolemia in ASia-Pacific region (HALES) was performed to better understand characteristics of and clinical decision-making for adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease/hypercholesterolemia after local evolocumab approval.

The HALES observational study, conducted at 33 sites (Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Australia) comprised (1) chart review of patients who received evolocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i), and (2) physician/patient survey and one-time data collection of patients with high cardiovascular risk initiating evolocumab or initiating/continuing non-PCSK9i lipid-lowering therapy. Patients could only enroll in (1) or (2).

Chart review included 724 very high-risk patients initiating evolocumab from regulatory approval to 2021. From median baseline LDL-C of 3.2 mmol/L (123.7 mg/dL), patients had a median percent change in LDL-C of - 60.8% at 1-6 months. Goal achievement increased from 7.9% to 69.8% for < 1.8 mmol/L (< 70 mg/dL) and 4.4% to 57.8% for < 1.4 mmol/L (< 55 mg/dL) from baseline to 12 months. In the one-time data collection, more patients had ≥ 1.8 mmol/L (≥ 70 mg/dL) baseline LDL-C in the evolocumab vs non-PCSK9i group (95.2% and 48.5%, respectively). Surveys found that physicians applied guideline-recommended treatment targets, and patients demonstrated gaps in understanding cardiovascular risk.

Real-world, Asia-Pacific data showed that LDL-C reduction after initiating evolocumab was consistent with that observed in other clinical trials and patient populations. Graphical abstract available for this article.·.