Evidence mapPaperPMID 41943003Full record

ArticleLipids in health and disease2026

Therapeutic inertia and lipid-lowering treatment modification after acute coronary syndrome: a longitudinal real-world study using a lagged decision-outcome design.

Qiyue Wang, Hua Fang, Wanting Cui, Gaofeng Zhang

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Article in Lipids in health and disease, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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4 authors.

Qiyue Wang *The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
Hua Fang *Shanghai Gumei Community Health Service Center, Shanghai, 201100, China.
Wanting CuiThe Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
Gaofeng ZhangThe Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200240, China. bangdezhang2012@163.com.

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6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntensive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is recommended to reduce cardiovascular risk, but real-world attainment of LDL-C targets remains suboptimal. Therapeutic inertia and varying lipid-lowering strategies may contribute to this gap, but their longitudinal impact is not well characterized.

methodsIn this retrospective longitudinal study, ACS patients with repeated follow-up visits (6–54 months) were evaluated. Lipid-lowering treatment strategies were categorized as no change/discontinuation, combination therapy, dose up-titration, or switching/intensification. A lagged decision–outcome design linked treatment strategies at Visit Tn to LDL-C target attainment at Tn+1. Generalized estimating equations and mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess associations with subsequent LDL-C target attainment using the 2016 guideline (< 1.8 mmol/L). For sensitivity analyses, the 2023 guideline was applied (< 1.4 mmol/L).

resultsA total of 1,731 ACS patients were included, with follow-up visits at 6–54 months. Combination therapy was the most frequently used strategy, followed by dose up-titration and switching/intensification. Notably, 10–15% of visits had no treatment adjustment. Treatment modification was significantly associated with improved LDL-C target attainment. Combination therapy showed the strongest effect (OR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.21–0.30), followed by dose up-titration (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.40–0.58) and switching/intensification (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.59–0.86). Therapeutic inertia was linked to more than double the risk of persistent LDL-C non-attainment (OR 2.46, 95% CI: 2.09–2.90).

conclusionsIn ACS patients, lipid-lowering treatment modification, particularly combination therapy, was associated with improved LDL-C target attainment, whereas therapeutic inertia was detrimental. Proactive treatment adjustment is crucial for improving secondary prevention in real-world practice.

Indexed as

Acute Coronary SyndromeCholesterol, LDLHypolipidemic AgentsAgedDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeCholesterol, LDLHypolipidemic AgentsAcute coronary syndromeCholesterolLDLLipid-lowering therapySecondary preventionTherapeutic inertia

Identifiers

PMID41943003
PMCPMC13188563

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.