Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in treatment of hyperlipidemia in elderly patients with coronary heart diseases

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in different dosages for treatment of hyperlipidemia in elderly patients with coronary heart diseases.Methods Eighty-one patients with hyperlipidemia were randomized into higher dose group(atorvastatin,20 mg/d)and lower dose group(atorvastatin,10 mg/d).The levels of TC,LDL-C,TG and HDL-C in serum were examined,and cardiac events and side-effects of atorvastatin were observed before and after atorvastatin therapy.Results The levels of TC,LDL-C,TG(except for 6 weeks after treatment) in both groups were decreased significantly after treatment(P0.01,P0.05).After 6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment,the levels of TC,LDL-C,TG in higher dose group were decreased more remarkedly than in lower dose group(P0.05,P0.01);there were significant differences in rates of reaching the standard between the two groups(P0.05).The attacks of unstable angina pectoris in higher dose group were decreased,compared with the lower dose group(P0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin 20 mg/d is superior to atorvastatin 10 mg/d in reduction of TC,LDL-C,TG,and cardiac events.Atorvastatin is an effective and safe drug in treatment of the elderly patients with hyperlipidemia dose-dependently patients.