title: Fenofibrate plus simvastatin (fixed-dose combination) for the treatment of dyslipidaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statin use results in a significant reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, patients still have residual CVD risk, even if they are receiving optimal statin treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review, based on a Pubmed/Scopus search, discusses the available evidence regarding the use of a fixed-dose fenofibrate plus simvastatin combination. This combination is useful for patients with mixed dyslipidaemia because it improves the overall lipoprotein profile. Although in clinical trials the rate of adverse events was not significantly greater than monotherapy, patients who receive combination treatment should be monitored carefully. Furthermore, in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Study, this combination did not result in a significant reduction of CVD events compared with simvastatin monotherapy. However, a possible benefit in this trial was observed in the subgroup of patients with high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fixed-dose fenofibrate plus simvastatin combination treatment produces additive results and is safe when patients are properly monitored. Existing evidence appears to support the addition of fenofibrate to simvastatin treatment for the reduction of residual CVD risk in patients with atherogenic dyslipidaemia. However, this combination did not lead to better clinical outcomes in the absence of dyslipidaemia.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.
authors: Theodosios D
authors: TD
authors: Filippatos
authors: Moses S
authors: MS
authors: Elisaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins; D019821:Simvastatin; D011345:Fenofibrate