In adults with atherosclerosis or diabetes and LDL cholesterol ≥90 mg/dL but no prior heart attack or stroke, evolocumab reduces the 5-year risk of first major cardiovascular events from 8.0% to 6.2%, corresponding to a number needed to treat of 56 to prevent one event over five years.

Source: Evolocumab in Patients without a Previous Myocardial Infarction or Stroke.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports

74score

Challenges

0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Quantitative

1 study reviewed

In plain English

In adults with atherosclerosis or diabetes and LDL cholesterol of at least 90 mg/dL who have not had a heart attack or stroke, taking evolocumab for five years lowers the chance of a first major cardiovascular event from 8.0% to 6.2%.

See the scientific wording

In adults with atherosclerosis or diabetes and LDL cholesterol ≥90 mg/dL but no prior heart attack or stroke, evolocumab reduces the 5-year risk of first major cardiovascular events from 8.0% to 6.2%, corresponding to a number needed to treat of 56 to prevent one event over five years.

Why this might work

A drug blocks a protein that normally destroys cholesterol-cleaning receptors in the liver. With more receptors available, the liver removes more cholesterol from the blood. Lower cholesterol in the blood slows the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries, reducing the chance of heart attacks and strokes.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

Study: Evolocumab in Patients without a Previous Myocardial Infarction or Stroke.
This study found that giving evolocumab to people with high cholesterol and artery disease or diabetes — but no prior heart attack or stroke — lowered their chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or dying from heart disease by about 2%. That means if you treat 56 people with this drug for five years, one of them will avoid a major heart problem.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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