Comparison of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) Goal Achievement and Lipid-Lowering Therapy in the Patients With Coronary Artery Disease With Different Renal Functions

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between renal function and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement and compare the strategy of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) among the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with different renal functions. METHODS: In this study, we enrolled 933 Chinese patients with CAD from September 2020 to June 2021 admitted to the Cardiometabolic Center of Fuwai Hospital in Beijing consecutively. All individuals were divided into two groups based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The multiple logistical regression analysis was performed to identify and compare the independent factors which impacted LDL-C goal achievement in the two groups after at least 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: There were 808 subjects with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) who were divided into Group 1 (G1). A total of 125 patients with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) were divided into Group 2 (G2). The rate of LDL-C goal attainment (LDL-C <1.4 mmol/L) was significantly lower in G2 when compared with that in G1 (24.00% vs. 35.52%, P = 0.02), even though there was no significant difference in the aspect of LLT between the two groups (high-intensity LLT: 82.50% vs. 85.60% P = 0.40). Notably, in G1, the proportion of LDL-C goal achievement increased with the intensity of LLT (23.36% vs. 39.60% vs. 64.52% in the subgroup under low-/moderate-intensity LLT, or high-intensity LLT without proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor (PCSK9i), or high-intensity LLT with PCSK9i, respectively, P < 0.005). In addition, in G2, there was a trend that the rate of LDL-C goal achievement was higher in the subgroup under high-intensity LLT (26.60% in the subgroup under high-intensity LLT without PCSK9i and 25.00% in the subgroup under high-intensity LLT with PCSK9i) than that under low-/moderate-intensity LLT (15.38%, P = 0.49). Importantly, after multiple regression analysis, we found that eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) [odds ratio (OR) 1.81; 95%CI, 1.15–2.87; P = 0.01] was an independent risk factor to impact LDL-C goal achievement. However, the combination strategy of LLT was a protective factor for LDL-C goal achievement independently (statin combined with ezetimibe: OR 0.42; 95%CI 0.30–0.60; P < 0.001; statin combined with PCSK9i: OR 0.15; 95%CI 0.07–0.32; P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Impaired renal function (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) was an independent risk factor for LDL-C goal achievement in the patients with CAD. High-intensity LLT with PCSK9i could improve the rate of LDL-C goal achievement significantly. It should be suggested to increase the proportion of high-intensity LLT with PCSK9i for patients with CAD, especially those with impaired renal function.