Abstract

Comparing efficacy and safety of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in ischemic heart disease patients

Author(s): Saleha Sadeeqa*

Background: Statins are very effective in controlling hyperlipidemia, the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. The most common, worldwide side effect of statins is myopathy. The study aims to compare safety and efficacy of most commonly used statins i.e. atorvastatin and rosuvastatin and effectiveness of CoQ10 in managing statin induced myopathy. Materials and Methods: An investigational study design was adopted using randomized trials at Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore Pakistan from November 2016 - February 2017. A total of 95 male and female patients were enrolled between the age ranges of 40-80 years, using atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. Lipid profile, total cholesterol, serum HDL-C, serum triglycerides, LDL-C and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio were analysed from blood samples. The effectiveness of CoQ10 was found by the blood CPK levels. Results: The results showed that gender and dose had significant correlation with CPK levels, (p=0.001) and (p>0.001) respectively. Patients using rosuvastatin 20 mg were significantly on high risk to myopathy as compared to atorvastatin 40mg (p=0.023). 20 mg atorvastatin was more prone to induce statin induced myopathy compared to 10 mg (p=0.001). Atorvastatin 20 mg showed higher levels of CPK as compared to rosuvastatin 10 mg (p=0.002). Significant increases in the levels of CPK also found with rosuvastatin 20 mg and atorvastatin 20 mg (p>0.001). Rosuvastatin 20 mg significantly increases the risk of myopathy compared to atorvastatin 10 mg (p>0.001). The effect of rosuvastatin 20 mg was significantly poor than atorvastatin 10 mg (p=0.001). Atorvastatin 10 mg was more efficacious than rosuvastatin 20 mg (p=0.026). The levels of CPK significantly reduced after treatment with CoQ10 (P=0.022). Conclusions: It was concluded that rosuvastatin users were more prone to the risk of myopathy, myalgic symptoms and rise in CPK levels were dose related, and both statins were equally effective. It was further concluded that CoQ10 was quite effective in lowering the levels of CPK and for the reversal of myalgiaa.