Higher baseline lipid levels amplify the benefit of secondary prevention therapy with statins in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective Statins are recommended as the first-line treatments for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study aimed to establish the baseline lipid levels associated with the greatest benefit from statin therapy in this population. Methods The study used a retrospective cohort methodology. In total, 636 patients with ACS were enrolled at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from 2011 to 2013. Participants were divided into four groups (group 1, hyperlipidemia with inconsistent statin use; group 2, no hyperlipidemia with inconsistent statin use; group 3, no hyperlipidemia with consistent statin use; and group 4, hyperlipidemia with consistent statin use). Results Patients in groups 3 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29-0.82) and 4 (HR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.10-0.45) had lower risks of MACE than those in group 1. In subgroup analysis, patients in group 4 had a lower risk of MACE than those in group 3 (adjusted HR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21-0.89). Conclusion Sustained statin therapy is associated with a lower risk of adverse outcomes in patients with ACS, especially in those with higher baseline lipid levels.