Comparing hyperlipidemia control with daily versus twice-weekly simvastatin.
BACKGROUND
Costs associated with the use of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors are increasing. Finding ways to manage hyperlipidemia at lower costs is critical to all healthcare systems.


OBJECTIVE
To assess effectiveness, safety, cost, and patients' satisfaction when converting hyperlipemic patients taking simvastatin daily to simvastatin twice weekly.


METHODS
This nonrandomized, open-label, proof-of-concept study converted patients treated with simvastatin 10 or 20 mg daily to 40 or 80 mg twice weekly, respectively, for 12 weeks. The lipid profiles at enrollment, week 6, and week 12 were compared using repeated-measures ANOVA. The percentage of patients attaining the appropriate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal was determined.


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients completed the study. The proportion of patients at the LDL-C goal was not statistically different between enrollment and week 12 (87% vs 68%; p = 0.068). The mean LDL-C value +/- SD at weeks 6 and 12 increased compared with enrollment (112 +/-20, 111 +/-17, and 97 +/- 17 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001). Three (10%) patients reported nonadherence to the twice-weekly regimen. Seventeen (55%) patients reported that both regimens were equally convenient or preferred the twice-weekly regimen. Estimated cost-savings at our institution associated with this regimen would be $32 000 per 1000 patients per year.


CONCLUSIONS
The twice-weekly regimen safely maintained most of the patients at their LDL-C goal level, and over half the patients found this regimen to be the same or easier to follow than a daily regimen. Large outcome studies evaluating this approach are needed.
Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs HealthCare System, University of Arizona Center for Health Outcomes & Pharmaco-Economic Research, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Emmanuelle F M
EF
Mangin
Gisela I
GI
Robles
William N
WN
Jones
Marjorie A
MA
Ford
Steven P
SP
Thomson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin