Treatment of hypertriglyceridaemia with icosapent ethyl in patients with high/very high cardiovascular risk. Consensus document of the Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia [Spanish Society of Cardiology] and the Sociedad Espanola de Diabetes [Spanish Diabetes Society].

Abstract

The Working Groups of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy of the Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia and Cardiovascular Disease of the Sociedad Espanola de Diabetes have prepared a consensus document on the treatment of hypertriglyceridaemia in patients with high/very-high-cardiovascular risk with icosapent ethyl, a highly purified and stable eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester. This document is necessary since there are differences among the three main omega-3 fatty acids and there is large-scale clinical evidence with icosapent ethyl that demonstrates that in addition to its efficacy in lowering triglyceridaemia, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in both patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and in those with type 2 diabetes, with a good safety profile. The number needed to treat to avoid a major cardiovascular event is analysed, comparing it with other pivotal studies of pharmacological intervention in cardiovascular prevention, and an estimate of the Spanish population likely to be treated with ethyl icosapent is carried out. These recommendations are of interest to all clinicians who manage patients with lipid metabolism disorders, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.