Remnant Cholesterol: Should it be a Target for Prevention of ASCVD?

Abstract

Purpose of review: To summarize studies analyzing whether remnant cholesterol should be a target for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Recent findings: There is a growing body of evidence from epidemiologic and Mendelian randomization studies implicating remnant cholesterol as a causal risk factor for ASCVD. However, the results of randomized controlled trials, particularly those conducted in the current high-intensity statin era, have been inconsistent. Most recently, the PROMINENT trial failed to show a beneficial effect of 0.4 mg/day of pemafibrate on the risk of ASCVD. In the Copenhagen General Population Study (CGPS), which mimics PROMINENT, the estimated hazard ratio for ASCVD was 1.05 (0.96-1.14) when absolute changes in remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B were combined, whereas the hazard ratio for ASCVD in PROMINENT was 1.03 (0.91-1.15). Further trials are warranted to ascertain the efficacy of novel remnant cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering agents in the prevention of ASCVD. To reduce ASCVD, active agents need to reduce total atherogenic cholesterol (LDL and remnant cholesterol) and apolipoprotein B.