title: Comparison of efficacy and safety of atorvastatin (80 mg) to simvastatin (20 to 40 mg) in patients aged <65 versus >or=65 years with coronary heart disease (from the Incremental DEcrease through Aggressive Lipid Lowering [IDEAL] study).
abstract: The efficacy and safety of atorvastatin (80 mg/day) versus simvastatin (20 to 40 mg/day) in older (age >or=65 years) versus younger (<65 years) patients were assessed in a prespecified secondary analysis of the 8,888 patients with myocardial infarction in the IDEAL trial, a randomized open-label study. Several cardiovascular end points were evaluated, including the occurrence of a first major coronary event (MCE; nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease death, or resuscitated cardiac arrest), the primary end point of the trial, and occurrence of any cardiovascular event (MCE, stroke, revascularization, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, and peripheral artery disease). Although there were no significant interactions between age and treatment, the magnitude of effect in favor of atorvastatin was higher in younger versus older patients (occurrence of first MCE, hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66 to 0.98; and HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.15, respectively; occurrence of any cardiovascular (CV) event, HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.89; and HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.99, respectively). These results were likely influenced by adherence, which was lower in older patients and those receiving atorvastatin compared with those receiving simvastatin. Rates of any reported serious adverse event were higher in older patients, but did not differ between the 2 statin groups. In conclusion, except for any CV events in the older group, significant reductions in primary and secondary end points were observed only in patients <65 years of age. The safety of atorvastatin (80 mg) and simvastatin (20 to 40 mg) was similar in patients aged <65 and >65 years with stable coronary disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Matti J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: Ingar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holme
authors.forename: Nilo B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Cater
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szarek
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Faergeman
authors.forename: John J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kastelein
authors.forename: Anders G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Mogens Lytken
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.forename: Terje R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin