Efficacy and safety of vorapaxar by intensity of background lipid-lowering therapy in patients with peripheral artery disease: Insights from the TRA2P-TIMI 50 trial

BACKGROUND: Patients with peripheral artery disease are at increased risk of both major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and limb events. The pathobiology of limb events is likely multifactorial. Observational studies suggest a benefit of statin therapy for reducing the risk of limb ischemic events while randomized trials demonstrate a benefit with more potent antithrombotic therapies, particularly those targeting thrombin. Whether the effects of these therapeutic pathways are independent and complementary is not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: The TRA 2°P-TIMI 50 (Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Ischemic Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 50) trial demonstrated that vorapaxar significantly reduced MACEs and limb events. The purpose of the current analysis was to evaluate the association of statin use and intensity and the occurrence of MACEs and limb events in 5845 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease randomized in TRA 2°P-TIMI 50 and then to understand whether statin use modified the benefits of vorapaxar for MACEs or limb ischemic events. We found that statin therapy was associated with significantly lower risk of MACEs (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66–0.89; P<0.001) and limb ischemic events (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60–0.89; P=0.002). The benefit of vorapaxar for reducing MACEs and limb events was consistent regardless of background statin (P-interaction=0.715 and 0.073, respectively). Event rates were lowest in patients receiving the combination of statin therapy and vorapaxar. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, statin use and intensity is associated with significantly lower rates of MACEs and limb ischemic events. Thrombin inhibition with vorapaxar is effective regardless of background statin therapy. These results suggest that targeting both lipid and thrombotic risk in peripheral artery disease is necessary in order to optimize outcomes.