Mass General Brigham researchers report that the cholesterol-lowering drug evolocumab can significantly reduce the risk of a first major cardiovascular event in people with diabetes who are considered high risk but do not yet have diagnosed atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque inside artery walls). The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session & Expo and published at the same time in JAMA.
“For over a decade, the intensive cholesterol-lowering have been reserved for patients who already have cardiovascular disease,” said corresponding author Nicholas A. Marston, MD, MPH, a cardiologist with the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute. “These results demonstrate the benefit of intensive lowering cholesterol earlier and should change how we think about the…