No Secondary-Prevention Benefit of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Older Patients

In such patients with a recent myocardial infarction, 1.8-g omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation did not improve cardiovascular outcomes.

Older patients are underrepresented in studies of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, prompting researchers in the OMEMI trial (NCT01841944) to test the potential benefit of an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplement added to standard-care secondary prevention in older patients who had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the previous 2 to 8 weeks. Of 4027 patients (ages, 70–82) screened during an index hospitalization for AMI at four sites in Norway, 1027 were randomized to receive either once-daily 1.8-g omega-3 PUFA (a mix of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) or corn-oil placebo. An intention-to-treat analysis included 1014 patients.

At 2 years, incidence of the primary outcome — a fir…

Reviewing Author

Fatima Rodriguez, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNovoNordisk; HealthPals; Novartis; Amgen

EquityHealthPals; Carta

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association–Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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