Wonder-drug can slash cholesterol City doctor leads UK study that could cut fatal heart attacks and strokes
ANEW cholesterol-busting drug can cut the chances of a fatal heart attack or stroke in high risk patients, according to a Birmingham doctor who led the UK part of a landmark global study.
Results showed how taking the drug evolocumab, as well as statins, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.
Taking the drug meant cholesterol levels fall by 60 per cent on average.
Dr Derek Connolly, consultant interventional cardiologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, was UK chief investigator for the study across 74 trial centres.
Patients in the trial were already taking statins, which are used to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Despite this, the patients who took evolocumab saw their bad cholesterol levels fall even further.
The study found that for every 74 people who took the drug for two years, one heart attack or stroke would be prevented. The news will have a significant impact on the way clinicians think about cardiovascular disease and how to manage it.
Both Sandwell and City Hospitals, which are run by the trust took part, as well as Wolverhampton’s New Cross, and the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.
Dr Connolly said: “Cardiovascular disease remains Europe’s biggest killer and having a raised cholesterol level is the biggest risk factor.
“Statins are cheap and very effective but there are many patients who still have an increased cholesterol level despite high doses of statins. In those patients the disease can continue to progress and cause heart attacks and strokes.”
He added: “This new landmark study has shown that lowering cholesterol further with evolucumab is safe, incredibly well tolerated and very effective in reducing the number of patients having heart attacks, strokes and other events.
“We are entering an exciting new era in treating coronary heart disease and stroke when in the majority of patients we can clean the diseased arteries out, meaning it actually gets better or goes away.
“Given that so many centres for this study were in the West Midlands, and our diverse population means it is even more pertinent to patients at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. Patients of a south Asian, eastern European, Scottish or Irish genetic background (like me) are particularly prone to coronary heart disease.”
Evolocumab is available on the NHS for certain patients who cannot lower their LDL cholesterol below specified thresholds despite optimal treatment with statins, or other cholesterol-lowering therapies, either because these therapies are not effective enough on their own or the patient cannot tolerate a sufficiently powerful dose.
There were 11 trial the West Midlands including:
Synexus Midlands Clinical Research Centre, Birmingham City Hospital University Hospital Coventry
Sherbourne Medical tre, Leamington Spa George Eliot Hospital Hospital of St Cross, Rugby University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke
Princess Royal Hospital, Telford Sandwell General Hospital New Cross Hospital Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester
In the majority of patients we can clean the diseased arteries out
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Dr Derek Connolly
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