2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.

AIM: The "2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease" provides an update to and consolidates new evidence since the "2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease" and the corresponding "2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Focused Update of the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease." METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from September 2021 to May 2022. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. STRUCTURE: This guideline provides an evidenced-based and patient-centered approach to management of patients with chronic coronary disease, considering social determinants of health and incorporating the principles of shared decision-making and team-based care. Relevant topics include general approaches to treatment decisions, guideline-directed management and therapy to reduce symptoms and future cardiovascular events, decision-making pertaining to revascularization in patients with chronic coronary disease, recommendations for management in special populations, patient follow-up and monitoring, evidence gaps, and areas in need of future research. Where applicable, and based on availability of cost-effectiveness data, cost-value recommendations are also provided for clinicians. Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.

AIM: The "2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease" provides an update to and consolidates new evidence since the "2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease" and the corresponding "2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Focused Update of the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease." METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from September 2021 to May 2022. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. STRUCTURE: This guideline provides an evidenced-based and patient-centered approach to management of patients with chronic coronary disease, considering social determinants of health and incorporating the principles of shared decision-making and team-based care. Relevant topics include general approaches to treatment decisions, guideline-directed management and therapy to reduce symptoms and future cardiovascular events, decision-making pertaining to revascularization in patients with chronic coronary disease, recommendations for management in special populations, patient follow-up and monitoring, evidence gaps, and areas in need of future research. Where applicable, and based on availability of cost-effectiveness data, cost-value recommendations are also provided for clinicians. Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

Adherence to lipid monitoring and its impact on treat intensification of LDL-C lowering therapies at an urban academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: Lipid monitoring is recommended by treatment guidelines to assess efficacy and adherence to lipid lowering therapy, but the available data is mostly limited to integrated health delivery systems with less diverse populations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of patients that completed appropriate lipid monitoring at an urban academic medical center and whether lipid monitoring is associated with treatment intensification. METHODS: Adults prescribed ≥1 LDL-C lowering therapy and with ≥1 outpatient encounter during 2018 and 2019 were included. Appropriate lipid monitoring was defined as ≥1 lipid panel obtained during the 12 month follow up period. Treatment intensification was defined as a dose increase, change to a higher intensity statin, or addition of a new LDL-C lowering therapy. The association between lipid monitoring and treatment intensification were assessed using regression models. RESULTS: Of the 12,332 patients on LDL-C lowering therapy, 88% had ≥1 lipid panel. The average patient was 60 years of age, 50% were female, and 50% identified as black or African American. On regression analysis (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]), lipid monitoring occurred less frequently in adults >75 years of age (0.63, 0.44 to 0.90), black or African American individuals (0.78, 0.69 to 0.89), and those insured by Medicaid (0.72, 0.61 to 0.86). The odds of treatment intensification steadily increased with the number of lipid panels compared to those without lipid monitoring. CONCLUSION: Lipid monitoring is associated with treatment intensification but occurs less frequently in adults >75 years of age, black or African American individuals, and those insured by Medicaid.

Investigating Lipid-Modulating Agents for Prevention or Treatment of COVID-19: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with systemic inflammation, endothelial activation, and multiorgan manifestations. Lipid-modulating agents may be useful in treating patients with COVID-19. These agents may inhibit viral entry by lipid raft disruption or ameliorate the inflammatory response and endothelial activation. In addition, dyslipidemia with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher triglyceride levels portend worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Upon a systematic search, 40 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with lipid-modulating agents were identified, including 17 statin trials, 14 omega-3 fatty acids RCTs, 3 fibrate RCTs, 5 niacin RCTs, and 1 dalcetrapib RCT for the management or prevention of COVID-19. From these 40 RCTs, only 2 have reported preliminary results, and most others are ongoing. This paper summarizes the ongoing or completed RCTs of lipid-modulating agents in COVID-19 and the implications of these trials for patient management.

Omega-3 fatty acids for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acids with many purported beneficial health effects including the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. Omega-3 fatty acid intake may be supplemented via dietary sources, as well as prescription or non-prescription products. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce serum triglycerides, but there remains ongoing debate regarding the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with established, or at risk of, ASCVD. Recent evidence from randomized, placebo-controlled trials has demonstrated that low-dose (1 g daily or less) omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) do not reduce cardiovascular events or death in patients with or without established ASCVD. Contrarily, the REDUCE-IT trial demonstrated that a purified form of EPA ethyl esters (icosapent ethyl) at 4 g daily reduced cardiovascular events and death in patients with ASCVD (or diabetes and multiple cardiovascular risk factors) and elevated triglycerides on background statin therapy. However, 4 g daily of omega-3 carboxylic acids (DHA and EPA) did not show a cardiovascular benefit in the STRENGTH trial, which enrolled a similar population. The explanation for this observed discrepancy remains a source of contention and discourse. For now, icosapent ethyl has the most compelling evidence to support a cardiovascular benefit and should be considered in select patients who meet the REDUCE-IT criteria. Furthermore, alternative versions of omega-3 fatty acids should not be considered equivalent to icosapent ethyl. Patients taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement should be monitored for potential adverse effects, including gastrointestinal disorders or bleeding, in addition to a possible increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Impact of Different Doses of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Outcomes: a Pairwise and Network Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplementation has shown conflicting evidence regarding its benefit in cardiovascular events. We performed a pairwise and network meta-analysis to elucidate the benefit of different doses of O3FA supplementation in cardiovascular prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: Fourteen studies were identified providing data on 125,763 patients. A prespecified cut-off value of < 1 g per day was set for low-dose (LD) O3FA and > 1 g per day for high-dose (HD) O3FA. The efficacy outcomes of interest were total death, cardiac death, sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, unstable angina, and major vascular events. Safety outcomes of interest were bleeding, gastrointestinal disturbances, and atrial fibrillation events. HD treatment was associated with a lower risk of cardiac death (IRR 0.79, 95% CI [0.65-0.96], p = 0.03 versus control), myocardial infarction (0.71 [0.62-0.82], p < 0.0001 versus control and 0.79 [0.67-0.92], p = 0.003 versus LD), coronary revascularization (0.74 [0.66-0.83], p < 0.0001 versus control and 0.74 [0.66-0.84], p < 0.0001 versus LD), unstable angina (0.73 [0.62-0.86], p = 0.0001 versus control and 0.74 [0.62-0.89], p = 0.002 versus LD), and major vascular events (0.78 [0.71-0.85], p < 0.0001 versus control and 0.79 [0.72-0.88], p < 0.0001 versus LD). HD treatment was associated with increased risk for bleeding events (1.49 [1.2-1.84], p = 0.0002 versus control and 1.63 [1.16-2.3], p = 0.005 versus LD) and increased atrial fibrillation events compared to control (1.35 [1.1-1.66], p = 0.004). HD O3FA treatment was associated with lower cardiovascular events compared to LD and to control, but increased risk for bleeding and atrial fibrillation events.

Catch of the Day: Icosapent Ethyl for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk.

For decades, omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) have been used for their cardioprotective effects. Although several prescription products are available, icosapent ethyl (IPE) is the lone pure, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-only, O3FA product. Initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce triglyceride (TG) levels in patients with TG levels ≥500 mg/dL, the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT) demonstrated that IPE reduces cardiovascular events in patients with either established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or diabetes plus ≥2 ASCVD risk factors, a TG level between 135 mg/dL and 499 mg/dL, and who were taking a statin. IPE is generally well tolerated, but caution is advised if used in patients taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapies because of an increased risk of bleeding. Based on the REDUCE-IT trial, the Food and Drug Administration granted IPE an indication for ASCVD risk reduction, making it the first O3FA product to receive such an indication. IPE is a cost-effective approach to reducing residual cardiovascular risk in high risk patients treated with statins.

Efficacy of different doses of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes: rationale and design of a network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) supplementation on cardiovascular risk is still in debate, largely due to the heterogeneity of population enrolled and variable dose and composition of the formulations used in the previous studies. Yet, O3FA may favorably impact on cardiovascular risk by reducing major cardiovascular events (including cardiac death and ischemic events). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We aim to perform a comprehensive review of the topic of O3FA for cardiovascular prevention, stemming from a systematic review, to pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis, limiting our inclusion only to randomized clinical trials comparing low dose (LD) (<1 g per day) O3FA and high dose (HD) (>1 g per day) O3FA versus placebo. The efficacy outcomes of interest are total death, cardiac death, sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, unstable angina and major vascular events. Safety outcomes of interest are bleeding, gastrointestinal disturbances and atrial fibrillation events. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: This meta-analysis is expected to include several important studies on cardiovascular primary and secondary prevention and detail on important cardiovascular outcomes. Furthermore, we intend to highlight safety outcomes related to O3FA supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The present network meta-analysis results will aid physicians in the decision to prescribe O3FA in patients with or at risk of cardiovascular events. In particular, it will be able to solve controversies emerged from previous randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses regarding the benefit of different doses of O3FA supplementation in the cardiovascular prevention.

Recent Developments in the Role of Coenzyme Q10 for Coronary Heart Disease: a Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines recent randomized clinical trials evaluating the role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the management of coronary heart disease. RECENT FINDINGS: CoQ10 is one of the most commonly used dietary supplements in the USA. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, CoQ10 has been studied extensively for possible use in managing coronary heart disease. One of the most common applications of CoQ10 is to mitigate statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) based on the theory that SAMS are caused by statin depletion of CoQ10 in the muscle. Although previous studies of CoQ10 for SAMS have produced mixed results, CoQ10 appears to be safe. Because CoQ10 is a cofactor in the generation of adenosine triphosphate, supplementation has also recently been studied in patients with heart failure, which is inherently an energy deprived state. The Q-SYMBIO trial found that CoQ10 supplementation in patients with heart failure not only improved functional capacity, but also significantly reduced cardiovascular events and mortality. Despite these positive findings, a larger prospective trial is warranted to support routine use of CoQ10. Less impressive are the effects of CoQ10 on specific cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and glycemic control. Current evidence does not support routine use of CoQ10 in patients with coronary heart disease. Additional studies are warranted to fully determine the benefit of CoQ10 in patients with heart failure before including it in guideline-directed medical therapy.