Table 1 Baseline characteristics overall as well as per PCSK9 inhibitor used and diabetes status
Characteristics | Total (n = 237) | Alirocumab (n = 104) | Evolocumab (n = 133) | Without diabetes mellitus (n = 175) | With diabetes mellitus type 2 (n = 54) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 65.2 (57.8–71.5) | 65.0 (57.8–71.5) | 65.4 (57.9–71.6) | 65.0 (57.8–70.8) | 68.9 (63.1–73.8) |
Female sex n (%) | 113 (47.7) | 53 (51.0) | 60 (45.1) | 88 (50.3) | 22 (40.7) |
Indication for PCSK9 inhibitor treatment n (%) | |||||
 Primary prevention | 6 (2.5) | 4 (3.8) | 2 (1.5) | 4 (2.3) | 2 (3.7) |
 Secondary prevention | 231 (97.5) | 100 (96.2) | 131 (98.5) | 171 (97.7) | 52 (96.3) |
Medical history n (%) | |||||
 Coronary heart disease | 177 (74.7) | 80 (76.9) | 97 (72.9) | 134 (76.6) | 38 (70.4) |
 Percutaneous coronary intervention | 110 (46.4) | 49 (47.1) | 61 (45.9) | 86 (49.1) | 21 (38.9) |
 Coronary artery bypass graft | 38 (16.0) | 16 (15.4) | 22 (16.5) | 27 (15.4) | 8 (14.8) |
 Stroke or transient ischemic attack | 32 (13.5) | 12 (11.5) | 20 (15.0) | 24 (13.7) | 8 (14.8) |
 Carotid artery disease | 73 (30.8) | 37 (35.6) | 36 (27.1) | 51 (29.1) | 20 (37.0) |
 Peripheral artery disease | 43 (18.1) | 15 (14.4) | 28 (21.1) | 25 (14.3) | 15 (27.8) |
 Arterial hypertension | 163 (68.8) | 74 (71.2) | 89 (66.9) | 112 (64.0) | 46 (85.2) |
 Familial hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous) | 51 (21.5) | 19 (18.3) | 32 (24.1) | 41 (23.4) | 8 (14.8) |
 Retinopathy | 10 (4.2) | 5 (4.8) | 5 (3.8) | 4 (2.3) | 3 (5.6) |
 Chronic kidney disease | 23 (9.7) | 6 (5.8) | 17 (12.8) | 10 (5.7) | 12 (22.2) |
 Current tobacco smoker | 14 (5.9) | 9 (8.7) | 5 (3.8) | 12 (6.9) | 1 (1.9) |
 Diabetes mellitus any type | 62 (26.2) | 25 (24.0) | 37 (27.8) | – | – |
  Diabetes mellitus type 1 | 6 (2.5) | 2 (1.9) | 4 (3.0) | – | – |
  Diabetes mellitus type 2 | 54 (22.8) | 22 (21.2) | 32 (24.1) | – | 54 (100) |
  Other types of diabetes | 2 (0.8) | 1 (1.0) | 1 (0.8) | – | – |
Intolerances/side effects to lipid-lowering medication n (%) | |||||
 Statins | 197 (83.1) | 83 (79.8) | 114 (85.7) | 147 (84.0) | 43 (79.6) |
 Ezetimibe | 106 (44.7) | 36 (34.6) | 70 (52.6) | 76 (43.4) | 28 (51.9) |
 Statins and ezetimibe | 101 (42.6) | 34 (32.7) | 67 (50.4) | 74 (42.3) | 25 (46.3) |