LDL-C management

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The burden of CVD

The number of people dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease is on the rise for the first time in 50 years,⁴ showing how urgent it is to act now.

8 in 10 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease could be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors⁵

Long-term exposure to persistently high LDL-C causes ASCVD and associated cardiovascular events⁶

Healthcare costs for CVD in England are estimated at £7.4 billion per year⁵

CVD mortality rates are strongly associated with social deprivation⁷

LDL-C management

Why does LDL-C lowering matter?

Abnormal lipid level is the most significant modifiable factor in the risk of a myocardial infarction. Restoring normal lipid levels should therefore be considered as soon as possible to help reduce CVD risk.⁶

Each 1 mmol/L LDL-C reduction is associated with a 21% relative lower risk of major vascular events (RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.77–0.81, p<0.0001)*⁸

The 2023/2024 QOF recognises the importance of proactive cholesterol management for patients who have already had a cardiovascular event⁹

Learn more about the new 2023/2024 QOF indicators here.

Unmet needs in LDL-C lowering

Although LDL-C lowering medications are available, many patients at risk of CVD are unable to reach their optimal LDL-C level.¹⁰

Only 24% of patients with cardiovascular disease are currently reaching the <1.8mmol/L LDL-C target.^†1

Footnotes

*Based on a meta-analysis of data from randomised statin trials over an average of 4.9 years (N=174,149 patients). The estimated absolute reduction in major vascular events in participants with a 5-year risk <10% was around 11 per 1,000 over 5 years for each 1.0 mmol/L LDL-C reduction. Major vascular events include fatal myocardial infarction or fatal stroke.⁸
^†National CVDPREVENT data covering the period up to March 2022. Data was received from 96.6% of GP practices, including approximately 18 million patients.¹

ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NHS, National Health Service; QOF, quality and outcomes framework.

References:

Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. Third annual audit report. Available at: https://www.hqip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ref-376-CVDPREVENT-Th... [Accessed October 2023].
LEQVIO® Great Britain. Summary of Product Characteristics.
LEQVIO® Northern Ireland. Summary of Product Characteristics.
Heart UK. Prioritising the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Available at: https://www.heartuk.org.uk/downloads/health-professionals/heart-uk-cvd-preventio... [Accessed October 2023].
The King’s Fund. Cardiovascular disease in England. Available at: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-11/CVD_Report_Web.pdf [Accessed October 2023].
Ference BA, et al. Eur Heart J 2017;38(32):2459–2472.
UK Health Security Agency. Health Matters: Ambitions to tackle persisting inequalities in cardiovascular disease. Available at: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2019/03/04/health-matters-ambitions-to-tackle-persisting-inequalities-in-cardiovascular-disease/ [Accessed October 2023].
CTT Collaborators. Lancet 2012;380(9841):581–590.
National Health Service. Quality and Outcomes Framework guidance for 2023/24. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PRN00289-quality-a... [Accessed October 2023].
Ray KK, et al. Lancet 2023;29:100624.