Elevated apoB due to high remnant cholesterol confers high risk of ASCVD without prompting sufficient lipid-lowering therapy: a guideline-based limitation and an unmet medical need

AIMS: Lipid-lowering therapy is typically initiated at high low-density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol marked by elevated apolipoprotein B(apoB). We tested the hypothesis that elevated apoB alternatively due to high remnant cholesterol confers equally high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) but less initiation of lipid-lowering therapy, compared to elevated apoB due to high LDL cholesterol.

METHODS AND RESULTS: From the Copenhagen General Population Study, 94 299 lipid-lowering therapy naïve adults without a history of ASCVD were included in 2003-2015. Discordance groups were formed by median levels of remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apoB. In the national Danish health registries, individuals were followed for a prescription of lipid-lowering therapy and for incident ASCVD until December 2021. During a median follow-up of 12 years, 9269 developed ASCVD. Compared to individuals with concordant low values of remnant cholesterol, apoB, and LDL cholesterol, those with high remnant cholesterol and high apoB but low LDL cholesterol had a hazard ratio(HR) of 1.45 (95% confidence interval: 1.34-1.56) for ASCVD and an odds ratio(OR) of 3.0 (2.5-3.6) for starting lipid-lowering therapy within one year. Correspondingly, those with low remnant cholesterol but high apoB and high LDL cholesterol had a HR of 1.20 (1.11-1.30) for ASCVD and an OR of 5.1 (4.3-5.9) for starting lipid-lowering therapy.

CONCLUSION: In a primary prevention setting, elevated apoB due to high remnant cholesterol confers high risk of ASCVD but less initiation of lipid-lowering therapy compared to elevated apoB due to high LDL cholesterol, representing a guideline-based limitation and an unmet medical need.