title: A multicenter, eight-week treatment, single-step titration, open-label study assessing the percentage of Korean dyslipidemic patients achieving LDL cholesterol target with atorvastatin starting doses of 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of algorithm-based atorvastatin therapy initiated at different starting doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg in Korean dyslipidemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred seventy-four patients were screened, and 425 were enrolled (low risk, n = 29; intermediate risk, n = 45; high risk, n = 351). The starting dose depended on a patient's cardiovascular risk and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients, 253 (59.5%), 63 (14.8%) and 109 (25.6%) patients were assigned at baseline to 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg atorvastatin, respectively. 390 patients (91.8%) completed the study, and 35 discontinued prematurely. No patient in the low or intermediate risk groups was titrated to 80 mg at Week 4, whereas, 26 in the high risk group were. 81.9% of patients achieved their LDL-C target at Week 4, which was sustained through to Week 8 (86.0%). 89.1% of patients who were not titrated achieved their LDL-C target at Week 8, and 82.1% of patients who were titrated 1 step up achieved their LDL-C target at Week 8. Overall, about 40% reduction in LDL-C, non-HDL-C levels, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was observed during the follow-up. Triglyceride was reduced by approximately 10% by Week 8. HDL cholesterol was slightly increased over 8 weeks (2.6%). Atorvastatin was well tolerated at all dose levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient-tailored statin therapy according to an individual's risk category and LDL-C levels was safe and effective with a quick achievement of LDL-C target in Korean dyslipidemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Whan
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Taek-Jong
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Young-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Jo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ihm
authors.forename: Jang-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Soon-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Doo-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Dae-Gyun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seung-Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bum-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Hyung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yang-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki-Bae
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Seung
authors.forename: Hyo-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin