Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in South Asian patients with dyslipidemia: an open label noncomparative pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality are 40% higher amongst South Asian men and women living in the UK compared with the general UK population. Despite an established excess CHD risk, little is known of the efficacy and safety of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) amongst South Asian migrants.


RESULTS
Hyperlipidemic South Asian patients (raised or uncontrolled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]) were recruited from two UK centers (n = 33). After a five-week period, which included dietary advice, patients received atorvastatin 10 mg/d for five weeks to achieve a target LDL-C goal of < 3.0 mmol/L, titrated to 20 mg, 40 mg, or 80 mg for a further 12 weeks as required. Significant reductions in LDL-C levels from baseline were observed after 4 weeks' and 17 weeks' treatment with atorvastatin (> or = 33.6%; 26.0, 41.2). Overall, 81% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 62.5, 92.6%) achieved the target LDL-C after 4 weeks' treatment with 10 mg atorvastatin. Titration to a dose of more than 20 mg was required in only one patient (40 mg) at any point during the study. Nineteen patients reported at least one adverse event during the study; the majority were mild in severity and considered unrelated to atorvastatin.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin was effective in achieving target lipid levels and was well tolerated. Statin therapy for high-risk South Asian individuals is likely to benefit CHD outcomes, although further and larger prospective trials are required.
Patel
Jeetesh V
JV
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, West Bromwich, UK.
Gupta
Sandeep
S
Lie
Frank
F
Hughes
Elizabeth A
EA
D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin