Table 1.
Baseline characteristics.
| Variable | Usual Responders | All Unusual Responders | True Unusual Respondersa |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 357 | 54 | 31 |
| Age (mean ± SD) | 63.8 ± 9.9 | 56.5 ± 13.5 | 57.5 ± 12.8 (NS) |
| Male sex, N (%) | 173 (48.5) | 20 (37) | 12 (38.7) (NS) |
| ASCVD, N (%) | 289 (81) | 42 (77.8) | 24 (77.4) (NS) |
| CAD, N (%) | 260 (72.8) | 37 (68.5) | 20 (64.5) (NS) |
| CVD, N (%) | 24 (6.7) | 4 (7.4) | 3 (9.7) (NS) |
| PAD, N (%) | 61 (17.1) | 12 (22.2) | 9 (29) (NS) |
| Polyvascular, N(%) | 54 (15.1) | 10 (18.5) | 8 (25.8) (NS) |
| ASCVD risk factors, N (%) | |||
| Hyperlipidemia | 357 (100) | 54 (100) | 31 (100) |
| FH | 175 (49) | 33 (61.1) | 22 (71) (p < 0.05) |
| HoFH | 8 (2.2) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) (NS) |
| HeFH | 167 (46.8) | 32 (59.3) | 22 (71) (p < 0.05) |
| Hypertension | 215 (60.2) | 30 (55.6) | 17 (54.8) (NS) |
| Diabetes | 58 (16.2) | 9 (16.7) | 3 (9.7) (NS) |
| Obesity | 137 (38.4) | 24 (44.4) | 14 (45.2) (NS) |
| Current tobacco use | 12 (3.4) | 4 (7.4) | 1 (3.2) (NS) |
| Family history ASCVD | 283 (79.3) | 47 (87) | 27 (87.1) (NS) |
| Lipid parameters at baseline (median [IQR]) | |||
| LDL-Cb | 132 (102–170) | 121.5 (91.5–169.8) | 133 (104.5–191.5) (NS) |
| Lp(a)b | 30 (11–97) | 80 (23–127) | 73.5 (27.5–118.3) (NS) |
| PCSK9c | 361.1 (284.5–500.8) | 408 (267.3–523.3) | 358.5 (253.5–460) (NS) |
| Baseline lipid-lowering therapy, N (%) | |||
| Statins | 165 (46.2) | 26 (48.1) | 9 (29) (NS) |
| High-intensity | 109 (30.5) | 15 (27.8) | 8 (25.8) (NS) |
| Moderate-intensity | 33 (9.2) | 5 (9.3) | 0 (0) (NS) |
| Low-intensity | 23 (6.4) | 6 (11.1) | 1 (3.2) (NS) |
| Ezetimibe | 219 (61.3) | 29 (53.7) | 13 (41.9) (p < 0.05) |
| BAS | 33 (9.2) | 3 (5.6) | 0 (0) (NS) |
| Niacin | 24 (6.7) | 4 (7.4) | 2 (6.5) (NS) |
| Fibrates | 19 (5.3) | 5 (9.3) | 4 (12.9) (NS) |
| Supplements | 71 (19.9) | 12 (22.2) | 6 (19.4) (NS) |
| None | 71 (19.9) | 14 (25.9) | 11 (35.5) (p < 0.05) |
ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; BAS, bile acid sequestrants; CAD, coronary artery disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; FH, familial hypercholesterolemia; HeFH, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; HoFH, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; IQR, interquartile range; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Lp(a), lipoprotein (a); N, number; NS, not significant; PAD, peripheral artery disease; PCSK9, protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9; SD, standard deviation.
P values show significance of differences between true unusual responders and usual responders.
Without adherence complications: regression of lifestyle interventions, discontinuing background lipid-lowering therapy, discontinuing PCSK9i, and/or suboptimal dose of PCSK9i.
mg/dL.
ng/dL.