Possibilities of combined hypolipidemic therapy in different categories of high and very high cardiovascular risk patients (a pilot study)

Abstract

Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined use of statins with ezetimibe in patients of various nosological groups of high and very high cardiovascular risk. Material and methods. A prospective interventional non-randomized study included 40 people, mean age 60.7±9.5 years, high and very high cardiovascular risk, who did not receive statin therapy or took statins without reaching the target low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol values. Patients were recommended to receive high-intensity statin therapy in combination with ezetimibe for 3 months. Biochemical parameters were determined by standard enzymatic methods and the beginning of combined lipid-correcting therapy and after 3 months. Results. In patients with high cardiovascular risk, the level of total cholesterol decreased by 39.7 % 3 months after treatment (6.8 ± 2.5 and 4.7 ± 2.5 mmol/L; p = 0.0001), the level of LDL cholesterol by 52.2 % (4.6 ± 2.4 and 2.8 ± 2.2 mmol/L; p = 0.0001), the TG level by 26 % (2.7 ± 1.1 and 2.0 ± 1.0 mmol/L; p = 0.008). In the group of patients with very high cardiovascular risk, we also noted a decrease in the total cholesterol level by 39.1 % (6.4 ± 1.4 and 4.4 ± 1.2 mmol/L; p = 0.0001), the level of LDL cholesterol by 45.5 % (4.4 ± 1.4 and 2.5 ± 0.9 mmol/L; p = 0.0001). We did not find statistically significant changes in the remaining lipid parameters. LDL cholesterol targets were achieved in 64 % of patients with high and 52 % of very high cardiovascular risk. There were no significant changes in activity of alanine and aspartate amino transferases, content creatine phosphokinase, glucose and glycated hemoglobin, glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions. Initial combination therapy with statin and ezetimibe is well tolerated and can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 2 times within 3 months in various categories of patients with high and very high cardiovascular risk.