Adding icosapent ethyl to statin therapy may reduce risk of stroke by 36%
Prescribing icosapent ethyl to patients on statin therapy may lead to a significant reduction in their risk of stroke, according to new findings being presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2021.
Icosapent ethyl, a purified form of an omega-3 fatty acid, is a prescription medication designed to limit triglycerides in the blood. It was approved by the FDA in 2019 as a secondary treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events among adult patients presenting with evaluated triglyceride levels.
The authors behind this latest study explored data from 8,000 patients who participated in the REDUCE-IT trial. The team aimed to evaluate how icosapent ethyl impacts patients who are already controlling their cholesterol levels through statin therapy.
Overall, the authors found that taking icosapent ethyl is associated with a 36% reduction in the risk of a first fatal or nonfatal ischemic stroke. Also, for every 1,000 patients who take icosapent ethyl for five years, approximately 14 strokes can be avoided altogether.
“Know your triglyceride levels,” lead author Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Heart & Vascular Center, said in a prepared statement. “If they are elevated, ask your doctor if you should be taking icosapent ethyl to further reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Your doctor may also recommend that you change your diet, exercise, lose weight if needed to lower your triglyceride levels, and may prescribe a statin medication if you need to lower your LDL cholesterol levels.”
The American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2021 is being held virtually March 17-19. Click here for more information.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.