Aortic & peripheral vascular diseaseSecondary analysis

Bempedoic Acid and First and Recurrent Limb Outcomes in Statin-Intolerant Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: Insights From the CLEAR Outcomes Trial

CirculationPublished

  • Secondary analysis of the CLEAR Outcomes randomised trial
  • blinded adjudication of major adverse limb events (MALE)
  • PAD subgroup

Authors' conclusion

Patients with PAD are at high risk of MALE and MACE. Bempedoic acid reduces both MACE and MALE in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease, with notable absolute benefits in patients with PAD.

Study context

Population
Statin-intolerant patients with PAD at baseline in the CLEAR Outcomes trialPAD subgroup of 13,970
Participants
1,624 patients
Comparison
Bempedoic acid vs placebo
Primary endpoint
MACE-4 (trial primary end point): CV death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke or coronary revascularization

Primary result

As reported in the abstract

MALE in patients with PAD · median 40.6 months

Placebo

8.3%

69 events

Bempedoic acid vs PlaceboEstimate (95% CI)P value
first MALE
HR 0.64(0.44–0.93)
P = 0.018
total MALE
RR 0.55(0.35–0.85)
P = 0.007

Further findings

First MACE-4 or MALE, overall and by PAD (subgroup)

Overall: HR (95% CI), 13% reduction
0.87 (0.80-0.95)
With PAD: HR (95% CI), not statistically significant
0.82 (0.64-1.04)
Without PAD: HR
0.87 (0.79-0.86) (95% CI)
  • Pinteraction=NS

Total MACE-4 or MALE, overall and by PAD (subgroup)

Overall: RR
0.81 (0.73-0.90) (95% CI)
With PAD: RR
0.71 (0.54-0.95) (95% CI)
Without PAD: RR
0.82 (0.73-0.92) (95% CI)
  • Pinteraction=NS

Original publication

Bempedoic Acid and First and Recurrent Limb Outcomes in Statin-Intolerant Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: Insights From the CLEAR Outcomes Trial. Circulation. Published 18 August 2026. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.125.078469

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it