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The following question refers to Section 4.10 of the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines. The question is asked by CardioNerds Academy Intern student Dr. Christian Faaborg-Andersen, answered first by UCSD fellow Dr. Patrick Azcarate, and then by expert faculty Dr. Laurence Sperling.
Dr. Laurence Sperling is the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology at the Emory University School of Medicine and Founder of Preventive Cardiology at the Emory Clinic. Dr. Sperling was a member of the writing group for the 2018 Cholesterol Guidelines, serves as Co-Chair for the ACC’s Cardiometabolic and Diabetes working group, and is Co-Chair of the WHF Roadmap for Cardiovascular Prevention in Diabetes.
The CardioNerds Decipher The Guidelines Series for the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines represents a collaboration with the ACC Prevention of CVD Section, the National Lipid Association, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association.
The European Society of Cardiology Prevention guidelines currently recommend that low-dose colchicine (0.5mg/day) may be considered for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
A. True
B. False
The correct answer is False.
The correct answer is False.
The European Society of Cardiology recommends that low-dose colchicine may be considered as an adjunctive therapy for secondary rather than primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in individuals whose risk factors are otherwise insufficiently controlled (Class IIb, LOE A). A broad evidence base currently supports that inflammation has pro-atherosclerotic effects and that reducing inflammation may reduce atherogenesis in high-risk patients.
The initial LoDoCo trial in 2013 first demonstrated a 10.7% absolute risk reduction in acute coronary syndrome, out of hospital cardiac arrest, and non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke with daily low-dose colchicine; however, results were clouded by small sample size. Subsequently, the CANTOS trial in 2017 demonstrated a 15% relative reduction in non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death with Canakinumab, an anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibody inhibitor of interleukin-1. More recently, the COLCOT trial in 2019 studying patients with recent AMI and LoDoCo2 trial in 2021 studying patients with stable chronic CAD both demonstrated reductions in myocardial infarction, cardiovascular mortality, CVA, and ischemia-driven revascularization with colchicine 0.5mg/day. In the LoDoCo2 trial, stable CAD was defined either angiographically, by coronary CT, CAC >400, or history of CABG >10 years prior with evidence of failed grafts or angioplasty since that time.
In high-risk individuals with stable ischemic heart disease, the most recent evidence suggests that once daily low dose colchicine may reduce myocardial infarction and other ischemic events. Future studies may assess the biochemical markers including the trend of lipids and inflammatory markers to identify subpopulations that may benefit most from this therapy.
Main Takeaway:
Based upon the 2021 ESC Prevention Guidelines, clinicians may consider initiating low-dose colchicine (0.5mg/day) for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, particularly if other risk factors are insufficiently controlled or if recurrent CVD events occur despite optimal therapy.
Guideline Location:
Section 4.10, page 3291.
