Attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal after endovascular treatment is associated with reduced cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Objective The relationship between attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and clinical outcomes in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has received little attention. We sought to investigate clinical outcomes in relation to attainment of LDL-C goals in patients with PAD after endovascular treatment. Methods We reviewed 342 PAD patients treated with endovascular therapy from 2010 through 2012. We categorized patients into two groups based on the attained LDL-C levels at short-term follow-up (mean, 4.8 ± 2.8 months): group A (n = 160), with LDL-C <70 mg/dL; and group B (n = 182), with LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke. Results Baseline characteristics were similar between group A and group B except for obstructive pulmonary disease (0% vs 7%; P =.001). More patients in group A received statin therapy than those in group B (93% vs 76%; P <.001). MACEs (4% vs 10%; P =.002) and all-cause mortality (2% vs 7%; P =.007) occurred less frequently in group A than in group B at 2 years. A Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression model identified attainment of LDL-C goal <70 mg/dL at short-term follow-up as an independent predictor of reduced MACEs (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.67; P =.006) along with age as a predictor of increased MACEs (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.08; P =.031). Conclusions Attainment of LDL-C goal <70 mg/dL at short-term follow-up is an independent predictor of reduced mortality and cardiovascular events after endovascular therapy in patients with PAD.