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  1. Article
  2. Source: Campus Sanofi
  3. May 14, 2025

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally¹

Author: Sanofi

Editorial Team

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths1. Of these deaths, 85% were due to myocardial infarction or stroke1. A CV event is a highly traumatic experience for patients and their families2. It takes a heavy emotional toll, brings widespread disability and significantly impedes quality of life3,4.

The need is clear: the healthcare community must do more to prevent devastating cardiovascular events in high and very high-risk patients that cause personal, societal and economic trauma.

Reducing risk in very high-risk ASCVD patients requires a HOLISTIC APPROACH and control of all modifiable risk factors, including elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)5.

Over 4 million deaths were attributed to elevated LDL-C in 20196,12. That's eight deaths per minute, and many of those could be prevented.

According to the 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemia and the 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of CVD in patients with diabetes, all ASCVD patients without exceptions are classified as very high-risk and, as such, have very strict LDL-C targets:

<55 mg/dL (<1.4 mmol/L) AND ≥ 50% LDL-C reduction vs. baseline5,11.

Access ESC 2019 Dyslipidaemia Guidelines

Yet, less than one third of ASCVD patients had their LDL-C levels within target range, according to the multinational observational SANTORINI study7. The reasons behind that are numerous, with one of them certainly being underuse of lipid-lowering treatment (LLT), most notably - combined LLT in general and PCSK9 inhibitors in particular7.

Assess CV Risk (Key Risk Calculators from the ESC

Who are the at-risk patients?

Meet Susan, 65

T2DM: from age 50 / LDL-C: 2.9 mmol/L (112 mg/dL) / BP: 130/80 mmHg / HbA1c: 7.0% / TGs: 165 mg/dL / BMI: 29 kg/m2

Complains of transient chest pain and shortness of breath while climbing stairs

Current medications:
Rosuvastatin 40 mg / ezetimibe 10 mg / telmisartan 80 mg / insulin glargine 300 units/mL / metformin 2000 mg / acetysalicylic acid 100 mg

Patients with combined T2DM and CAD have a 28% higher risk of CV events* compared to those without T2DM8

*cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke

Meet Eric, 62

Smoker / LDL-C: 2.9 mmol/L (112 mg/dL) / BP: 140/80 mmHg / HbA1c: 5.0% / TGs: 140 mg/dL / BMI: 27 kg/m2

Complained of progressive persistent anginal symptoms, 12 months ago - CTA was performed, 55% obstruction of left anterior descending artery was found, subsequently - severe stenosis was confirmed during a cardiac catheterization, and elective PCI was performed

Current medications:
Rosuvastatin 40 mg / ezetimibe 10 mg / acetysalicylic acid 100 mg / clopidogrel 75 mg

Coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 16% of all deaths in 20199

Meet John, 60

Long-term smoker / LDL-C: 2.5 mmol/L (98 mg/dL) / BP: 130/80 mmHg / T2DM: since age 48 / HbA1c: 7.5% / TGs: 167 mg/dL / BMI: 28 kg/m2

Complains of moderate pain in calves on exertion, which is relieved by rest

Current medications:
Atorvastatin 80 mg / ezetimibe 10 mg / insulin glargine 300 units/mL / metformin 2000 mg / acetysalicylic acid 100 mg / rivaroxaban 5 mg

Patients with combined T2DM and PAD have a nearly 8x higher risk of CV events compared to those without either condition10

Time to Act Early. Time to Prevent The Event.

Mission of the healthcare community: to help ASCVD patients avoid the trauma of a 1st event through effective LDL-C control and CV risk reduction

MAT-KW-2400411/V1/Oct 2024  

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