REDUCE-IT BMI: Icosapent Ethyl Provides Consistent Benefit, Regardless of BMI

The benefits of icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) seen in the REDUCE-IT trial were consistent regardless of diabetes status or BMI at baseline, according to an analysis presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 81st Scientific Sessions (ADA 2021).

Titled REDUCE-IT BMI, the latest analysis examined whether BMI and presence of diabetes impacted the cardiovascular risk reduction of icosapent ethyl and found icosapent ethyl was associated with significant risk reduction compared to placebo, irrespective of baseline BMI category or diabetes status.

An 8179-patient trial comparing icosapent ethyl against placebo therapy in patients aged 45 years and older with elevated triglycerides, REDUCE-IT has been the subject of praise or controversy at cardiology and diabetes-focused medical meetings in recent years. Demonstrating a 25% reduction for the study’s primary composite cardiovascular endpoint and a 26% reduction for the secondary composite endpoint, REDUCE-IT has helped to carve a unique niche in the landscape of cardiovascular risk reduction for icosapent ethyl.

A previous analysis, titled REDUCE-IT DIABETES, detailed the effects of icosapent ethyl on the same outcomes based on diabetes status at baseline. In the ADA 2021 study, which was presented by Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH, Executive Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, investigators compared the effects across 3 different BMI categories and diabetes status.

Results of this study demonstrated use of icosapent ethyl was associated with consistent reductions in the primary endpoint across all BMI categories. Additionally, investigators noted similar findings were observed when assessing for the secondary endpoint.

For more on the results of this study, Endocrinology Network reached out to Bhatt and that conversation is the subject of this ADA 2021 House Call.

This study, “Substantial Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl Regardless of Diabetes Status or BMI: REDUCE-IT BMI,” was presented at ADA 2021.