Prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke with PCSK9 inhibitors treatment: a metanalysis of recent randomized clinical trials.

PURPOSE: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors treatment induce large reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and major cardiovascular events. Clinical trials might have been underpowered to test the effect of PSCK9 inhibitors treatment on myocardial infarction and stroke, two of the most relevant cardiovascular events, since all analyzed a combined endpoint. METHODS: we performed a meta-analysis, with currently available studies involving PCSK9 inhibitors and event rate adjudication, with the aim of assessing treatment effects on myocardial infarction and stroke. RESULTS: We included 81,700 patients, 41,979 treated with a PSCK9 inhibitors: 17,244 with evolocumab; 13,720 with bococizumab and 11,015 with alirocumab. A total of 1,319 cases of myocardial infarctions were registered in the treatment group vs. 1,608 in controls, resulting in 19.0% reduction associated with PCSK9 treatment (RR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.76-0.87). Similarly, PCSK9 inhibitors treatment resulted in a 25% reduction of stroke (RR: 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.85) when all studies were analyzed together and the statistically significant heterogeneity was not observed in the analysis restricted to end-point based clinical trials. PCSK9 inhibitors treatment had no effect on mortality (RR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.86-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: PCSK9 inhibitors reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction by 19% and stroke by 25%.

Experiencia inicial en la práctica clínica con los inhibidores PCSK-9 para las indicaciones actuales de financiación en España / Initial real-world experience with PCSK-9 inhibitors in current indications for reimbursement in Spain

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Relationship between erectile dysfunction and silent myocardial ischemia in type 2 diabetic patients with no known macrovascular complications.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) because it is highly prevalent among those with cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). Moreover, it precedes the development of CVD and is considered a subrogate marker of subclinical CVD. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of ED among patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) without macroangiopathy, and to assess the association between ED and other CVRFs, chronic diabetes complications, silent myocardial ischemia (SMI), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: One hundred fifty-four male patients with DM2 and without clinical evidence of CVD were included in the study. The presence of ED, PAD, SMI, chronic diabetic complications, and other CVRFs was evaluated in these patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PAD; SMI; ED; 24-hour blood pressure Holter; lipid profile; insulin resistance; testosterone; chronic inflammation; nephropathy; retinopathy; neuropathy. RESULTS: Prevalence of ED was 68.2%. Patients with ED were older and characterized by DM2, systolic blood pressure (BP), retinopathy, and insulin treatment of longer duration than patients without ED, even when adjusting for age was performed. Adjusting for duration of diabetic condition revealed significant differences in age and systolic BP. Independent factors for ED were age (57.7±7.5 years, relative risks [RR 1.1], P=0.003) and duration of diabetes (9[3-15] years, RR 1.1, P=0.006). SMI was detected in 13.6% of patients (18.1% in patients with ED vs. 4.1% in patients without ED). Asymptomatic PAD was detected in 13.2% of subjects (14.4% in patients with ED vs. 10.4% in patients without). CONCLUSIONS: ED is highly prevalent in DM2, and is associated with the presence of SMI, higher systolic BP and chronic microvascular diabetic complications.