Comparison of effects of high (80 mg) versus low (20 mg) dose of simvastatin on C-reactive protein and lipoproteins in patients with angiographic evidence of coronary arterial narrowing

Effect of Antihypertensive and Statin Medication Use on Muscle Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Performing Strength Training

OBJECTIVES

Antihypertensive drugs (AHTD) and statins have been shown to have effects beyond their primarily designed purpose; here we investigate their possible effect on muscle performance and strength in older adults following a physical exercise programme.

DESIGN

The Senior PRoject INtensive Training (SPRINT) study is a randomised, controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on the immune system and muscle performance in older adults.

PARTICIPANTS

In this secondary analysis, we included 179 independent participants (aged 65 years and above). We applied further categorisation based on medication use: AHTD (including, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEI], angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARB], β-blockers, and other AHTD) and statins.

INTERVENTION

Participants were allocated randomly to one of the three exercise protocols: intensive strength training 3 times/week (3 × 10 repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum), strength endurance training (2 × 30 repetitions at 40% of one-repetition maximum), or control (passive stretching exercise) for 6 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS

The change in maximal hand grip strength (GS), muscle fatigue resistance (FR), Muscle Strength Index (MSI), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) were assessed before and after 6 weeks of training.

RESULTS

After 6 weeks, muscle strength (MSI and TUG) improved significantly in all training groups compared to baseline, independently of AHTD use. Moreover, AHTD had no effect on exercise improvements, with no significant differences between medication groups, except for TUG in ARB users, which exhibited a significantly lower performance. On the other hand, statin users presented a significantly longer FR time, indicating better performance compared to non-users. Finally, medication did not affect the participants' commitment to the training programme.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that statins and ARB usage might affect participant's response to strength training. Nevertheless, 6 weeks of training significantly improved muscle strength and performance irrespective of AHTD or statin use.

Fenofibrate/simvastatin fixed-dose combination in the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia: safety, efficacy, and place in therapy

Lipids disorder is the principal cause of atherosclerosis and may present with several forms, according to blood lipoprotein prevalence. One of the most common forms is combined dyslipidemia, characterized by high levels of triglycerides and low level of high-density lipoprotein. Single lipid-lowering drugs may have very selective effect on lipoproteins; hence, the need to use multiple therapy against dyslipidemia. However, the risk of toxicity is a concerning issue. In this review, the effect and safety of an approved combination therapy with simvastatin plus fenofibrate are described, with an analysis of pros and cons resulting from randomized multicenter trials, meta-analyses, animal models, and case reports as well.

Which statin worked best to achieve lipid level targets in a European registry? A post-hoc analysis of the EUROASPIRE III for coronary heart disease patients

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to determine the proportion of patients within the subsample reaching the target lipid levels defined in the European guidelines, stratified according to type and dose of statin used.

BACKGROUND

Many factors affect the attainment of lipid level targets including gender, age, compliance, statin type, and dosage. This study aimed to determine the percentage of post-interventional coronary heart disease (CHD) patients who met the lipid level targets recommended by the Joint European Societies Guidelines, the medications used, and their doses.

METHODS

A post-hoc analysis of a subsample of 2,000 patients from EUROASPIRE III database was selected randomly from patients who attended the interviews (between six months to three years after event). Further stratification according to type and dose of statin was performed.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 74.5% males, and two thirds (63.8%) of the entire sample were over 60 years of age. More women than men showed elevated total cholesterol (>4.5 mmol/l and >4.0 mmol/l), LDL-cholesterol (>2.5 mmol/l and >2.0 mmol/l), and triglycerides (>1.7 mmol/l). Atorvastatin was the most widely used at both discharge and interview (47.1% and 45.4%) than simvastatin (37.7% and 39.4%). A dose of 20 mg atorvastatin was used by 44.10% of patients, while those on fluvastatin used a higher dose: ⩾40 mg in 88.31%. Patients who achieved targeted total cholesterol levels for atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin showed a trend in dose increase. Pravastatin users who achieved the target were taking a dose of 10 mg (75%) and less were in the 20 mg group (33.33%). Rosuvastatin users who consumed 10 mg and ⩾40 mg dose achieved the lipid level targets by 61.82% and 66.67%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Compliance with medications was high after a CHD incident in this European sample and the increase of the atorvastatin and simvastatin doses enabled the attainment of the target levels recommended.

Cardiovascular and economic outcomes after initiation of lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin vs simvastatin in an employed population

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of cardiovascular-related hospitalization, statin adherence, and direct (medical and drug) and indirect (disability and medically related absenteeism) costs in US employees in whom atorvastatin or simvastatin was newly prescribed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Active employees aged 18 to 64 years with a new atorvastatin or simvastatin prescription were identified from a deidentified claims database for 23 privately insured US companies from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2006. Employees given atorvastatin were matched to those given simvastatin according to propensity scores based on patient characteristics, index statin dose, preindex cardiovascular events, and wage. Outcomes were compared between matched cohorts during the 2-year postindex period, including the risk of cardiovascular-related hospitalization, adherence to the index statin, use of other lipid-lowering drugs, direct medical costs for third-party payers, and indirect costs to employers. Indirect costs were computed as follows: Disability Payments + Daily Wage x Days of Medically Related Absenteeism. Atorvastatin and simvastatin drug costs were imputed using recent pricing to account for the availability of lower-cost generic simvastatin after the study period.

RESULTS

Among 13,584 matched pairs, treatment with atorvastatin vs simvastatin was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular-related hospitalization, higher adherence, and less use of other lipid-lowering drugs. The increase in statin costs associated with atorvastatin vs simvastatin therapy was almost completely offset by reductions in medical service and indirect costs.

CONCLUSION

In this study, treatment with atorvastatin compared with simvastatin was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, reduced indirect costs, and a minimal difference in total costs to employers.

Fixed-dose combination of extended-release niacin plus simvastatin for lipid disorders

Coronary heart disease (CHD) carries significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Elevated LDL-cholesterol and reduced HDL-cholesterol levels are well-recognized CHD risk factors. Despite guideline recommendations for intensive therapy among patients at high risk for CHD to lower LDL-cholesterol, such lowering has failed to prevent approximately two-thirds of cardiovascular events. As a result of new data, guidelines have begun to focus on non-HDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides as treatment targets, with the end result being a recommendation for combination therapy, such as niacin plus statin for the treatment of dyslipidemia. Compared with statin monotherapy, a combination of niacin and statin therapy provides beneficial effects on a broad range of lipid particles and some evidence suggests a further reduction in CHD risk. Recent studies have shown that the combination of a fixed dose of extended-release niacin plus simvastatin reduces non-HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio by approximately 50% while increasing HDL-cholesterol by 25%. The safety of this combination is consistent with the safety profiles of each individual component and is well tolerated. A long-term study is currently being conducted to evaluate whether this combination therapy confers an additive impact on clinical end points.

Comparison effect of atorvastatin (10 versus 80 mg) on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in subjects with metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS), characterized by low-grade inflammation, confers an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Statins, in addition to having lipid-lowering effects, have pleiotropic effects and decrease biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. The Treating to New Target Study showed a greater decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and cardiovascular events with atorvastatin 80 mg versus 10 mg in patients with MS with coronary heart disease. However, part of this benefit could be caused by the greater pleiotropic effects of the higher dose of atorvastatin. The dose-response effect of atorvastatin on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress has not been investigated in subjects with MS. Thus, the dose-response effect of atorvastatin on biomarkers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], matrix metalloproteinase-9, and nuclear factor-kappaB [NF-kB] activity) and oxidative stress (oxidized LDL, urinary nitrotyrosine, F2-isoprostanes, and monocyte superoxide release) was tested in a randomized double-blind clinical trial in subjects with MS. Seventy subjects were randomly assigned to receive placebo or atorvastatin 10 or 80 mg/day for 12 weeks. A strong dose-response (atorvastatin 10 compared with 80 mg, p <0.05) was observed for changes in total, LDL (32% and 44% reduction), non-high-density lipoprotein (28% and 40% reduction), and oxidized LDL cholesterol (24% and 39% reduction) at atorvastatin 10 and 80 mg, respectively. Hs-CRP, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and NF-kB significantly decreased in the 80-mg atorvastatin group compared with baseline. In conclusion, this randomized trial of subjects with MS showed the superiority of atorvastatin 80 mg compared with its 10-mg dose in decreasing oxidized LDL, hs-CRP, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and NF-kB activity.

Simvastatin improves flow-mediated dilation but reduces adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in hypercholesterolemic patients

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesized that simvastatin may reduce adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in hypercholesterolemic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Age, sex, and BMI were matched. Thirty-two patients were given placebo, and 30, 32, 31, and 31 patients were given daily 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg simvastatin, respectively, during a 2-month treatment period.

RESULTS

Simvastatin doses of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg significantly reduced total cholesterol (mean changes 27, 25, 37, and 38%), LDL cholesterol (39, 38, 52, and 54%), and apolipoprotein B levels (24, 30, 36, and 42%) and improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (68, 40, 49, and 63%) after 2 months of therapy compared with baseline (P < 0.001 by paired t test) or compared with placebo (P < 0.001 by ANOVA). Simvastatin doses of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg significantly decreased plasma adiponectin levels (4, 12, 5, and 10%) and insulin sensitivity (determined by the Quantitative Insulin-Sensitivity Check Index [QUICKI]) (5, 8, 6, and 6%) compared with baseline (P < 0.05 by paired t test) or compared with placebo (P = 0.011 for adiponectin and P = 0.034 for QUICKI by ANOVA). However, the magnitudes of these percent changes (FMD, adiponectin, and QUICKI) were not significantly different among four different doses of simvastatin despite dose-dependent changes in the reduction of apolipoprotein B levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Simvastatin significantly improved endothelium-dependent dilation, but reduced adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in hypercholesterolemic patients independent of dose and the extent of apolipoprotein B reduction.