Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Atorvastatin Versus Combination of Atorvastatin - Ezetimibe in Newly Diagnosed Dyslipedemic Patients

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is an established risk factor for atherosclerotic disease, particularly coronary artery disease (CAD); therefore, management of high serum LDL-C levels is the most important goal in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Since therapy with statins alone fails to achieve the targeted LDL-C values with lesser side effects it is better to try a combination therapy having high efficacy and safety profile. This study compared the efficacy and safety of the combination of Atorvastatin 10 mg +Ezetimibe 10 mg versus Atorvastatin 10 mg alone in lowering LDL-C in newly diagnosed dyslipidemic patients. Besides, it compared the efficacy of the two drugs in lowering the TC, TG, and TC/HDL-C and LDL/HDL-C ratio. We also compared the increase in HDL-C in the two groups at the end of 12 weeks. This study was conducted on 60 hypercholesterolemic patients in SreeBalaji Medical College Hospital. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 30each. Group 1 was given Atorvastatin 10 mg +Ezetimibe 10 mg while Group 2 was given Atorvastatin 10 mg. The Lipid Profile, biochemical and hematological tests, clinical examination were done on Day 0, 6th week, and 12th week and these results were compared the group and between groups from 0 to 6th week and 6th week to 12th week and 0 to 12th week. The results from our study indicated that Combination therapy with Atorvastatin 10 mg + Ezetimibe 10 mg is superior to Atorvastatin 10 mg alone in reducing LDL-C, TC, TC/HDL-C ratio and raising the HDL-C levels at the end of 12 weeks. Thus the study implies that combination therapy is superior to monotherapy in the high-risk group of dyslipidemia patients.