CV inflammation, driven by IL-6, is the common thread across multiple CVDs^1-5,7

Regardless of LDL-C levels, ~2.7x increased risk of CV death for patients with or high risk of ASCVD and CV inflammation, compared to those without^16*

~2 in 5 patients with ASCVD+CKD, or heart failure have CV inflammation despite SoC^24,25†

Patients with ≥2 mg/L have increased CV risk as per AHA/ACC and ESC/EAS guidelines^9,10

How common is CV inflammation?

A recent global prevalence study investigated the presence of cardiovascular (CV) inflammation in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), ASCVD with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD), or heart failure.^7,8

2 IN 5 PATIENTS

~2 in 5 patients

had CV inflammation, defined as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2 mg/L.^7,8

THE POSEIDON STUDY

The POSEIDON study included over 18,000 patients from 18 countries across 5 continents. This global investigation gives a clear picture of the burden of CV inflammation.^7,8 Despite a degree of regional and ethnic variation, the POSEIDON study has laid bare the true scale of CV inflammation and its presence in patients.^7,8

Explore the prevalence of CV inflammation across the globe, as measured by % of patients with hsCRP ≥2 mg/L

Adapted from: Lam et al. 2026 and Navar et al. 2026.

HSCRP TESTING

CV inflammation persisted in patients

Despite receiving standard of care, including lipid-lowering therapies, SGLT2is, and GLP-1 RAs.^7,8*

Across BMI classifications.^7,8†

With and without comorbidities, including hypertension or Type 2 diabetes.^7,8‡

These findings underscore the need for hsCRP testing to identify patients with CV inflammation to allow for better understanding and management of their CV risk.

At a glance

CV inflammation is present in ~2 in 5 patients with ASCVD + comorbid CKD or heart failure globally^7,8
CV inflammation is present despite standard of care treatment^7,8
Testing for hsCRP ≥2 mg/L is crucial to identify this underlying risk⁹

What is CV inflammation?

What are the risks of CV inflammation?

How is CV inflammation measured using hsCRP?

Footnotes
*Prevalence of statin, ezetimibe, SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA use: in patients with ASCVD +CKD and hsCRP <2 mg/L the use of statins was 84.6%, the use of ezetimibe was 33.2%, the use of SGLT2i was 40.8% and the use of GLP-1 RA was 6.7%. In patients with ASCVD + CKD and hsCRP ≥2 mg/L the use of statins was 76.4%, the use of ezetimibe was 23.6%, the use of SGLT2i was 39.8% and the use of GLP-1 RA was 6.6%. In patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF and hsCRP <2 mg/L use of SGLT2i was 45.5% and GLP-1 RA was 4.6%. In patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF and hsCRP ≥2 mg/L use of SGLT2i was 45.1% and GLP-1 RA was 5.5%. Data were collected from over 18,904 patients across 18 countries.^16,17
†Prevalence of BMI: in patients with ASCVD + CKD and hsCRP <2 mg/L 40.7% had BMI>27 and 20.5% had BMI>30. In patients with ASCVD +CKD and hsCRP ≥2 mg/L 51.1% had BMI>27 and 30.5% had BMI>30. In patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF and hsCRP <2mg/L 42.3% had BMI>27 and 22.4% had BMI>30. In patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF 49.7% had BMI>27 and 40.8% had BMI>30. Data were collected from over 18,904 patients across 18 countries.^16,17
‡Prevalence of hypertension: in patients with ASCVD + CKD 82.1% of patients had hypertension in both the hsCRP <2 mg/L and hs CRP≥2 mg/L groups. Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes: 48.4% of patients with ASCVD + CKD and hsCRP <2 mg/L had Type 2diabetes, 50.7 % of patients with ASCVD + CKD and hsCRP ≥2 mg/L had Type 2 diabetes. 35.4% of patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF and hsCRP <2 mg/L had Type 2 diabetes, 39.8% of patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF and hsCRP ≥2 mg/L had Type 2 diabetes.^16,17
§A collaborative analysis of 31,245 statin-treated patients who had or were at high risk of atherosclerotic disease from across the PROMINENT¹⁰ (n=9,988), REDUCE-IT¹¹ (n=8,179), and STRENGTH¹² (n=13,078) trials found that residual inflammatory risk was significantly associated with CV death (highest hsCRP quartile [>4.2–>4.8 mg/L] versus lowest [<1.1–<1.2 mg/L], adjusted HR 2.68, 95% CI 2.22–3.23; p<0.0001).¹⁵
#As measured by hsCRP >2 mg/L inpatients with ASCVD+CKD, or heart failure. The POSEIDON study was a global real-world evidence prevalence study which included 18,904 patients from 18 countries. It included patients with ASCVD with and without comorbid CKD, and patients with heart failure.^16,17

Abbreviations
ACC=American College of Cardiology; AHA=American Heart Association; ASCVD=atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; BMI=body mass index; CI=confidence interval; CKD=chronic kidney disease; CV=cardiovascular; CVDs=cardiovascular diseases; GLP-1=glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist; HR=hazard ratio; hsCRP=high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; IL-6=interleukin-6;SGLT2i=sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor.

1. Feng Y et al. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:818890. 2. Mehta N et al.Curr Atheroscler Rep2024; 27(1):12. 3. Su J et al. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:745061. 4. Knopp T et al. EurHeart J Open 2024; 4(4):oeae046. 5. Kurt B et al. CurrHeart Fail Rep2025; 22:35. 6. Katkenov N et al. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2024;11(7):206. 7. Lam C et al. EurHeart J 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejhf/xuag155 8. Navar A et al. Atherosclerosis 2026. 9. Ridker P. J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 72:3320–3333. 10. Pradhan A etal. NEngJ Med 2022;387(21):1923–1934. 11. Bhatt D et al. N Engl J Med 2019;380(1):11–12. 12. Nicholls S et al. JAMA 2020;324(22):2268–2280. 13. Mach F et al. EurHeart J 2025;46(42):4359–4378. 14. Blumenthal R et al. JACC 2026;87(19):2624–2757. 15. Ridker P et al. Lancet 2023; 401(10384):1293–1301. 16. Lam C et al. Eur Heart J 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejhf/xuag155. 17. Navar A et al. Atherosclerosis 2026.

CV inflammation, driven by IL-6, is the common thread across multiple CVDs1-5,7

Regardless of LDL-C levels, ~2.7x increased risk of CV death for patients with or high risk of ASCVD and CV inflammation, compared to those without16*

~2 in 5 patients with ASCVD+CKD, or heart failure have CV inflammation despite SoC24,25†

Patients with ≥2 mg/L have increased CV risk as per AHA/ACC and ESC/EAS guidelines9,10