Increased risk of acute pancreatitis (AP)
The risk of AP increases at 500 mg/dL and becomes significantly more pronounced at fasting triglyceride levels >880 mg/dL because of the accumulation of VLDL and chylomicrons at this level.1-5
>5x higher risk of AP in adults with triglyceride levels 500 mg/dL to 879 mg/dL6*
>17x higher risk of AP in adults with triglyceride levels ≥880 mg/dL6*
- AP risk continues to increase 3% with every 100 mg/dL rise in triglyceride levels ≥1000 mg/dL4
Guidelines identify triglyceride levels <500 mg/dL as a critical threshold for reducing acute pancreatitis risk, including the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, National Lipid Association, American Diabetes Association, and Endocrine Society.2,7-10
*In a study of 1.8 million adults, acute pancreatitis risk vs those with normal triglyceride levels (<150 mg/dL).6
sHTG=severe hypertriglyceridemia; VLDL=very low-density lipoprotein.
sHTG-induced AP has serious consequences
Even a single episode of AP can have significant consequences. Once a patient with sHTG has had an AP episode11:
- The chance of another is as high as 24%11*
- The chance of a third event after a second rises to 49%11*
Mortality rate as high as 8%12,13
Irreversible multisystem organ damage, including pancreatic necrosis12,14
Prolonged hospitalization of around 17 days per incident12,13
Beta-cell dysfunction leading to pancreatogenic diabetes (type 3c diabetes mellitus)12,14
Healthcare-related costs of around $100K per incident15†
Standard-of-care treatments’ ability to lower triglyceride levels in patients with sHTG can be inadequate, and none have demonstrated efficacy in reducing risk of AP.1,7,16
*Retrospective claims database analysis of 7,119,195 US patients. Acute pancreatitis event risk was assessed based on the presence or absence of acute pancreatitis events within the previous 12 months.11
†In total costs for hospitalization and the 12 months following an AP event.15
sHTG=severe hypertriglyceridemia.