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Published on: November 10, 2017

Efficacy of low dose atorvastatin in diabetic dyslipidaemia

Pramod Pola1, Ravishankar Kumar, Amaresh P Reddy

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati 517507.

Journal of the Indian Medical Association
|May 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Low-dose atorvastatin effectively manages dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes patients. This 10 mg daily dose significantly reduced LDL cholesterol to target levels, showing good tolerability and safety in the Indian population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.
  • Dyslipidemia management, particularly with statins, is crucial for reducing cardiovascular risk in T2DM.
  • Targeting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a primary goal in managing dyslipidemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a low dose (10 mg) of atorvastatin in achieving target LDL-C levels in patients with T2DM and dyslipidemia from the Indian subcontinent.
  • To assess the safety and tolerability of 10 mg daily atorvastatin in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-one T2DM patients with dyslipidemia were enrolled.
  • All participants received a daily dose of 10 mg atorvastatin.
  • Serum lipid profiles, including LDL-C, were measured at baseline and after 3 months of treatment.

Main Results:

  • Treatment with 10 mg atorvastatin daily resulted in a significant reduction in LDL-C by 37.6% (from 135 ± 24 mg/dl to 84 ± 27 mg/dl, p < 0.001).
  • Target LDL-C levels (<100 mg/dl for those without CHD, <70 mg/dl for those with CHD) were achieved in 75.5% and 75% of respective patient groups.
  • Significant reductions were also observed in total cholesterol and triglycerides, with a slight increase in HDL-C.

Conclusions:

  • Low-dose (10 mg) atorvastatin is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for reducing LDL-C to target levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.
  • This therapeutic approach is particularly relevant for the Indian population, addressing a critical unmet need in cardiovascular risk reduction.

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