LDL-C calculator

* This calculator is based on the average LDL-C reduction achieved in trials with a given therapy and therefore shows average results from lipid lowering therapy. Of note, trial populations usually have better adherence than in real-world practice. The results of untreated LDL-C calculation can be inflated by hyporesponse or non-adherence to therapy by the patient. Therefore, the calculator automatically gives an error when the calculated LDL-C exceeds 10 mmol/L. Levels this high are only seen in severely affected (homozygous) familial hypercholesterolemia patients.

• Statins: based on the mean LDL-C reduction per statin and dose described in¹
• Ezetimibe on top of statins: based on the mean LDL-C reduction in the ENHANCE² and IMPROVE-IT³ trials (20%)
• Ezetimibe as monotherapy: based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials⁴ (21%)
• PCSK9 inhibition on top of any lipid lowering therapy: based on the mean LDL-C in the FOURIER⁵ and ODDYSEY⁶ trials (53%)
• PCSK9 inhibition monotherapy: based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials⁴ (57%)
• PCSK9 inhibition in combination with ezetimibe: based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials⁴ (69%)
• Bempedoic acid on top any lipid lowering therapy: based on the average LDL-C reduction in the CLEAR Harmony and CLEAR Wisdom studies⁷
• Bempedoic acid without statin therapy: based on the average LDL-C reduction in the CLEAR Tranquility and CLEAR Serenity studies⁷ (18%)
• Bempedoic acid in combination with ezetimibe, irrespective of statin use: based on the LDL-C reduction observed in a randomzied controlled trial⁸ (36%)

1. Besseling, J. et al. Atherosclerosis 233, 219–223 (2014)
2. Kastelein, J. J. P. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 358, 1431–1443 (2008)
3. Cannon, C. P. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 372, 2387–2397 (2015)
4. Lipinski, M. J. et al., Eur. Heart J. 37, 536–545 (2016)
5. Sabatine, M. S. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 376, 1713–1722 (2017)
6. Schwartz, G. G. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 379, 2097-2107 (2018)
7. Ballantyne, C. M. et al., Cardiovasc. Drugs Ther. 35, 853–864 (2021)
8. Ballantyne, C. M. et al., Eur. J. Prev. Cardiol. 27, 593–603 (2020)