People with high triglycerides, even in the presence of controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), remain at increased risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and incur higher healthcare costs, according to a retrospective data analysis presented Nov. 12 at the American Heart Association scientific sessions in Anaheim, California.

Researchers studied de-identified medical claims for more than 20,000 adults who used statins, had controlled LDL-C and had either established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or diabetes plus additional risk factors. Half of the study population had high triglycerides—between 200 and 499 milligrams per deciliter—while the other half had normal triglycerides (less than 150 mg/dL).

After an average follow-up of 41 months, patients with high triglycerides demonstrated a 35 percent increased risk for MI, a 51 percent increased risk for coronary revascularization and a 35 percent increased risk for MACE, defined as a composite of MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, unstable angina and cardiovascular mortality.

The high triglyceride group also racked up a 15 percent higher average healthcare cost and were 17 percent more likely to require an inpatient hospital stay.

“These data highlight the increased cardiovascular risk and healthcare cost in subjects with high triglyceride levels despite statin use and controlled LDL-C in a real-world setting and a large sample of patient experience over multiple years,” study co-author Peter Toth, MD, PhD, said in a press release.

Toth and others are currently involved in an 8,175-patient study to see whether icosapent ethyl (Vaspeca, Amarin) is beneficial as an add-on to statin treatment in patients at high cardiovascular risk who have controlled LDL-C levels but high triglycerides. Vaspeca is currently FDA-approved as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride levels in adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia.

Results from that trial are expected to be announced in 2018, according to Amarin.