Comparison of Low-Dose Rosuvastatin with Atorvastatin in Lipid-Lowering Efficacy and Safety in a High-Risk Pakistani Cohort: An Open-Label Randomized Trial

Abstract EN

Background.

Treatment of hyperlipidemia is helpful in both primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke.

Aim.

To compare lipid-lowering efficacy of rosuvastatin with atorvastatin.

Methodology.

This open-label randomized controlled trial was carried out at 1 Mountain Medical Battalion from September 2012 to August 2013 on patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, or stroke, meriting treatment with a statin.

Those with secondary causes of dyslipidemia were excluded.

Blood samples for estimation of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C were collected after a 12-hour fast.

Patients were randomly allocated to receive either atorvastatin 10 mg HS or rosuvastatin 5 mg HS daily.

Lipid levels were rechecked after six weeks.

Results.

Atorvastatin was used in 63 patients and rosuvastatin in 66.

There was a greater absolute and percent reduction in serum LDL-C levels with rosuvastatin as compared to atorvastatin (0.96 versus 0.54 mg/dL; P = 0.011 and 24.34 versus 13.66%; P = 0.045 ), whereas reduction in all other fractions was equal.

Myalgias were seen in 5 (7.94%) patients treated with atorvastatin and 8 (12.12%) patients treated with rosuvastatin (P: 0.432).

Conclusion.

Rosuvastatin produces a greater reduction in serum LDL-C levels and should therefore be preferred over atorvastatin.