AUTHOR=Ma Wenrui , Pan Qinyuan , Pan Defeng , Xu Tongda , Zhu Hong , Li Dongye TITLE=Efficacy and Safety of Lipid-Lowering Drugs of Different Intensity on Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.713007 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.713007 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=

There have been many meta-analyses for statins, ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) to evaluate clinical outcomes, but the efficacy and safety of different intensity of these three drugs on clinical outcomes was absent. PCSK9i, ezetimibe, and statins were divided into seven interventions as follows: including PCSK9i + high-intensity statins (P9i+HT), PCSK9i + moderate-intensity statins (P9i+MT), ezetimibe + high-intensity statins (Eze+HT), ezetimibe + moderate-intensity statins (Eze+MT), high-intensity statins (HT), moderate-intensity statins (MT), and low-intensity statins (LT). The risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the clinical outcomes in all randomized controlled trials included. In traditional meta-analysis, the more intensive treatment had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88–0.95), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.86–0.92), myocardial infarction (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.77–0.81), coronary revascularization (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76-0.84), and cerebrovascular events (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.80–0.88) compared with the less intensive treatment. However, the more intensive treatment had a higher risk of new-onset diabetes (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.12). The network meta-analysis demonstrated that P9i+HT, P9i+MT, HT, and MT were significantly associated with a risk reduction in coronary revascularization and cerebrovascular events compared with PLBO. LT could effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.92), MI (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.82), and coronary revascularization (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65–0.91) compared with PLBO. P9i+HT was superior to HT in reducing the risk of MI (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68–0.90), coronary revascularization (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73–0.96), and cerebrovascular events (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64–0.95). However, compared with PLBO, P9i+HT, HT, and MT could increase the risk of new-onset diabetes (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.11–1.37; RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14–1.33; RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.15, respectively). In conclusion, PCSK9i added to background statins may be recommended as preferred lipid-lowering therapy, and did not increase the additional risk of new-onset diabetes. The safety and efficacy of ezetimibe was not superior to that of statins. LT can be recommended as the initial therapy.