IN collaboration with the Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society (PLAS), global health care company Organon mounted the 2nd Lipid Forum titled “Start early, strike strong: Addressing the urgency of ‘Treat to goal’ in Dyslipidemia management” to tackle the pressing issue of cholesterol management.
The health care forum brought together leading cardiologists, surgeons and lipid experts across the country.
In the Asia Pacific, the Philippines faces a significant public health burden of dyslipidemia with almost 40 percent of the population being affected by high cholesterol levels
Dyslipidemia includes abnormal and unhealthy levels of bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the bloodstream. When excessive bad cholesterol circulates in the blood, it causes the build-up of fatty plaques that clog the normal blood flow to the heart and other organs, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Recent data from PSA have shown that heart disease accounts for 124,182 cases or more than 18 percent of all deaths across the country.
Alarmingly, millions of Filipinos as young as 20 years old are unknowingly suffering from high cholesterol levels, making early detection and intervention crucial. About 12 percent of patients that are diagnosed with dyslipidemia may be affected by Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).
When it comes to managing cholesterol, the international health care consensus adheres to the principle: “The lower, the better.” Studies have shown that lowering LDL-C to optimal levels could prevent 75 percent of deaths from cardiovascular diseases worldwide.
Lipid-lowering therapies using Ezetimibe work by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed in the intestine, thereby decreasing the overall amount of cholesterol in the body. When combined with statin medication, the treatment effectively decreases both absorption and production of cholesterol in the body.
According to cardiologist and heart rhythm disorder expert Kelvin Chua, to effectively lower LDL-C levels and prevent heart disease, a single-pill combination (SPC) of ezetimibe with stain-based therapy can improve healthcare outcomes for very high-risk populations.
“Based on studies, by aggressively treating dyslipidemia in high-risk patients with high-intensity statin or combination therapy, there’s a significant reduction of atheroma in the arteries,” says Chua. “If you can lower the LDL-C by more than 40 percent up to a 70mg/dl target, it can lead to plaque regression.”
Renowned lipid expert Lourdes Ella Santos spotlights the impact of upfront treatment of the sSPC of ezetimibe and statin treatment for very high-risk patients such as those with FH and a history of heart disease or stroke.
“The earlier, the better,” Santos emphasizes. “Studies have shown that every 1 millimole of LDL-C reduction leads to 20 to 25 percenmt relative risk reduction of any major cardiovascular events. More importantly, the longer the patient is on lipid-lowering therapy, the better cumulative benefit.”
The cumulative effect of long-term lipid-lowering therapies is crucial for patients with FH, who are exposed to high LDL-C levels from birth. By initiating combination therapy early and maintaining it consistently over time, patients can significantly reduce their lifetime exposure to elevated LDL-C.
The success of this year’s Lipid Forum is a testament to Organon and PLAS’s commitment to pushing the boundaries and elevating health care practice in the Philippines. By equipping top medical doctors in the country with the latest advancements in lipid research and clinical guidelines, Organon aims to drive positive health actions that enhance the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for millions of Filipinos nationwide.
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