Lipid effects of switching from prescription EPA+DHA (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) to prescription EPA only (icosapent ethyl) in dyslipidemic patients

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Residual cardiovascular risk and persistently elevated triglycerides (TGs) may remain despite statin therapy in patients with dyslipidemia. Prescription omega-3 fatty acid formulations containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been shown to reduce TGs and may potentially lower residual cardiovascular risk. However, DHA may raise low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and compromise treatment goals. Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa®), a high-purity prescription EPA formulation, has been shown to lower TGs and other lipid parameters without raising LDL-C. There are no prospective, randomized, controlled trials of the effects of switching patients from omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Lovaza®), a prescription formulation containing EPA+DHA, to icosapent ethyl.

Methods: This retrospective chart review included records of high-risk patients aged ≥18 years receiving stable statin therapy for dyslipidemia who had been switched from prescription omega-3-acid ethyl esters 4 g/day to prescription icosapent ethyl 4 g/day and had available laboratory lipid profiles after receiving each for ≥2 months. Lipid assessments were conducted by local laboratories. Patient records were excluded if there were changes in medication or health condition that could affect lipid parameters.

Results: The records of 8 patients (6 women and 2 men; 54–83 years) met eligibility criteria. Following the switch to icosapent ethyl, LDL-C changes ranged from +3.2% to −69.1% (reduced in 7 patients), total cholesterol was reduced in all patients (−3.5% to −44.3%), and TG changes ranged from +32.4% to −59.0% (reduced in 6 patients). Decreases or no changes in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed; changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol varied. No adverse events related to either product were reported.

Conclusion: In this real-world retrospective analysis, switching high-risk statin-treated patients from omega-3-acid ethyl esters to icosapent ethyl resulted in favorable lipid changes. The analysis was limited by the small patient numbers, but lipid results were consistent with randomized controlled trials and previous case series.

KEYWORDS:

• Docosahexaenoic acid
• dyslipidemia
• eicosapentaenoic acid
• LDL cholesterol
• omega-3 fatty acids
• Lovaza
• Vascepa

Acknowledgments

Medical scientific reference checks and associated assistance were provided by Sephy Philip, RPh, PharmD and Joy Bronson of Amarin Pharma Inc., and by Sumita Chowdhury, MD, MPH, FACC, MBA, a consultant to Amarin Pharma Inc.

Declaration of interest

Editorial assistance was provided by Peloton Advantage, Parsippany, NJ, USA and funded by Amarin Pharma Inc. JR Crandell is on the speaker’s bureau for Amarin Pharma Inc. and received compensation for conducting the current case study as well as reimbursement for travel to present the case study at professional meetings for Amarin Pharma Inc. J Tartaglia is on the speaker’s bureau and is a consultant for Amarin Pharma Inc. C Tartaglia was compensated by Amarin Pharma Inc. for time spent compiling patient data. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This article was by sponsored Amarin Pharma Inc., Bedminster, NJ, USA.