• Christoph Ebenbichler, Heinz Drexel, Ursula Hanusch, Hermann Toplak, Nafeesa N Dhalwani, Ian Bridges, Robert Hoelzl, Margit Hemetsberger, and Kausik K Ray.
• Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. Christoph.Ebenbichler@i-med.ac.at.
• Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 2024 Feb 1; 136 (3-4): 778677-86.

BackgroundThis real-world study examined clinical characteristics and dyslipidemia management among patients initiating evolocumab across 12 European countries. Austrian data are reported.MethodsData of consenting adults were collected for ≤ 6 months prior to evolocumab initiation (baseline) and ≤ 30 months post-initiation. Patient characteristics, lipid lowering therapy (LLT, i.e. statin and/or ezetimibe) and lipid values were collected from medical records.ResultsIn Austria, 363 patients were enrolled. At baseline, 52% of patients initiated evolocumab without background LLT; the median (Q1, Q3) initial low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was 142 (111, 187) mg/dL. Within 3 months of evolocumab treatment, median LDL‑C decreased by 59% to 58 (37, 91) mg/dL. This reduction was maintained over time, despite consistently infrequent use of background LLT. LDL-C < 55 mg/dL was attained by 65% of patients (76% with, 55% without background LLT). Evolocumab persistence was ≥ 90% at month 12 and month 30.ConclusionIn Austria, patients were initiated on evolocumab at LDL‑C levels almost 3‑times higher than the guideline-recommended clinical goal (< 55 mg/dL). Persistence with evolocumab was very high. Evolocumab led to a rapid and sustained LDL‑C reduction with 65% attaining the LDL‑C goal. Patients using evolocumab in combination with statins and/or ezetimibe were more likely to attain their LDL‑C goal and thus decrease cardiovascular risk.© 2023. The Author(s).

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