Efecto, en la práctica clínica, de la fluvastatina de liberación prolongada en los lípidos séricos en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 y dislipemia

Abstract

Introduction The decrease of low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDLc) produced by statins is associated with a reduction in macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Long-acting fluvastatin (LAF) has a slower absorption and longer action time than other statins. Objective To assess, in clinical practice, the effect of LAF on serum lipids (SL) in T2DM patients in whom maximum doses of other statins failed to achieve the recommended goals. Material and method Of 452 patients with T2DM and dyslipidemia who were on maximum doses of simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin or atorvastatin, 84 with LDLc levels > 2.97 mmol/l (> 115 mg/dl) were selected. Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLc), triglycerides (TGs) and LDLc were measured. The percentage of patients achieving recommended goals for SL before and 9 months after switching from the previous statin treatment to LAF 80 mg/day was compared. Results After 9 months of LAF treatment, 57 % of the patients achieved the LDLc target (P = 0.0000). Mean TC and LDLc significantly decreased (P = 0.000, for both) while HDLc significantly increased (P = 0.000). Conclusions In clinical practice, LAF treatment achieved the LDLc target in more than 50 % of the patients with T2DM in whom maximum doses of other statins failed to achieve the recommended goals. In addition to this effect, the increase in HDLc observed after LAF treatment shows the importance of this statin in the treatment of T2DM patients with dyslipidemia.