Background: This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of algorithm-based atorvastatin therapy initiated at different starting doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg in Korean dyslipidemic patients.
Methods: Five hundred seventy-four patients were screened, and 425 were enrolled (low risk, n = 29; intermediate risk, n = 45; high risk, n = 351). The starting dose depended on a patient's cardiovascular risk and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
Results: Of the patients, 253 (59.5%), 63 (14.8%) and 109 (25.6%) patients were assigned at baseline to 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg atorvastatin, respectively. 390 patients (91.8%) completed the study, and 35 discontinued prematurely. No patient in the low or intermediate risk groups was titrated to 80 mg at Week 4, whereas, 26 in the high risk group were. 81.9% of patients achieved their LDL-C target at Week 4, which was sustained through to Week 8 (86.0%). 89.1% of patients who were not titrated achieved their LDL-C target at Week 8, and 82.1% of patients who were titrated 1 step up achieved their LDL-C target at Week 8. Overall, about 40% reduction in LDL-C, non-HDL-C levels, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was observed during the follow-up. Triglyceride was reduced by approximately 10% by Week 8. HDL cholesterol was slightly increased over 8 weeks (2.6%). Atorvastatin was well tolerated at all dose levels.
Conclusions: Patient-tailored statin therapy according to an individual's risk category and LDL-C levels was safe and effective with a quick achievement of LDL-C target in Korean dyslipidemic patients.