Aggressive lipid-lowering therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention - for whom and how?

Abstract

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been established as a definitive method to treat obstructive coronary artery disease. The procedure on its own, however, is insufficient to ensure optimal longterm patient outcomes as it is also necessary to achieve good control of relevant risk factors. The process of atherosclerosis as a result of dyslipidaemia is a risk continuum and secondary preventive measures for patients who have undergone PCI are of paramount importance to mitigate the risk of procedural failure and further cardiovascular events. This review aims to provide an overview of the landscape of lipidlowering therapy for the purpose of secondary prevention by summarising recommendations derived from contemporary guidelines and highlighting the rationale and evidence behind the three main lipid-lowering therapies, namely statins, ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors. It also provides insights into real-world challenges and issues surrounding secondary prevention of dyslipidaemia such as suboptimal lipid goal attainment and nonadherence, and assesses the possible methods to overcome them.