Efficacy and tolerability of lovastatin in hypercholesterolemic women

In a previous report of a multicenter study (Kannel et al, 1990), the results of 6 months' treatment with lovastatin in 489 adults with primary hypercholesterolemia were presented. The present report contains the results from the 236 women patients. The intial dose of lovastatin was 20 mg daily and could be increased to a maximum of 80 mg/day. At the end of 1 month of treatment, levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and the total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and LDL:HDL cholesterol ratios were significantly lower and the HDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher. These improvements in the lipid profile were maintained for 6 months. The results in the 88 women aged 65 to 83 years and in the 147 women aged 25 to 64 years were similar. LDL-cholesterol goals of less than 3.36 mmol/L in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or two or more CHD risk factors and less than 4.14 mmol/L among the other patients were achieved by 48% of the women at 1 month and 58% by 6 months. At least one adverse effect was reported by 18% of the women, the most common being abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. The results indicate that hypercholesterolemic women respond well to treatment with lovastatin.