The efficacy and safety of different doses of simvastatin in treatment of patients with coronary artery disease

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different doses of simvastatin in treatment of patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods 114 patients with definite diagnosis of CHD were enrolled and divided into two groups treated with 20 mg (n=58) and 10 mg (n=56) simvastatin,once each night,respectively.The fasting serum levels of total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) as well as functions of liver and kidney were determined before medication,6th,12th and 24th week after initial medication,respectively.Results The levels of TC and LDL-C were decreased significantly at 6th,12th and 24th week after initial medication (all P0.05),and at the same time,TC and LDL-C levels in 20 mg group were continuously lower than those in 10 mg group (all P0.05).The rate of reaching target level of TC or LDL-C(TC4.68 mmol/L,LDL-C 2.6 mmol/L) was higher in 20 mg group than in 10 mg group (78.2% vs 52.9%,P0.05).There were no statistical differences in adverse effects including abnormal liver enzyme between the two groups.Conclusion The simvastatin 20 mg in treatment of CHD is safe and more effective in lowering cholesterol,causing more CHD cases to reach the target level of cholesterol.