Ezetimibe use and mortality after myocardial infarction : A nationwide cohort study




Kytö, Ville; Tornio, Aleksi

PublisherElsevier

2024

American journal of preventive cardiology

American Journal of Preventive Cardiology

100702

19

2666-6677

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2024.100702(external)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2024.100702(external)

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457060266(external)



Background The inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption by ezetimibe improves outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI), yet real-world data on ezetimibe is scarce. We studied the usage of ezetimibe and association with outcome after MI. Methods Consecutive MI patients in Finland (2010-2018) were retrospectively studied (N = 57,505; 65% men; mean age 69 years). The study data were collected from national registries. The median follow-up was 4.5 (IQR 2.8-7.1) years. Between-group differences were adjusted for using multivariable regression. Ezetimibe use was studied with competing risk analyses. Results The cumulative incidence of ezetimibe use was 3.7% at 90 days, 13.4% at 5 years, and 19.8% at 10 years. Younger age was one of the strongest predictors of ezetimibe use (adj.sHR 6.67; CI 5.88-7.69 for patients aged <60 vs ≥80 years). Women were more likely to use ezetimibe during follow-up than men. The average proportion of patients using ezetimibe during follow-up was 6.8%. (11.7% at 10 years). Ezetimibe was discontinued by 43.6% of patients during follow-up. Patients with early ezetimibe therapy after MI had lower all-cause mortality during follow-up (33.6% vs 45.1%; adj.HR 0.77; CI 0.69-0.86; P<0.0001). Early ezetimibe use was associated with lower mortality irrespective of sex, age, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, heart failure, malignancy, revascularization, or statin use. Ongoing ezetimibe therapy during follow-up was associated with lower mortality in a time-dependent analysis (adj.HR 0.53; CI 0.48-0.59; P<0.0001). Conclusions Ezetimibe is associated with a lower risk of death after MI, yet its therapeutic use is limited, and discontinuation is frequent.


This work was supported by grant funding from the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research sr and Finnish State research funding.


Last updated on 2025-27-01 at 19:43