Increased rosuvastatin dose versus concomitant fenofibrate and rosuvastatin therapy to achieve lipid goal in patients with diabetes or atherosclerosis with metabolic syndrome

Purpose: We aimed to ascertain whether increased rosuvastatin dose is non-inferior to concomitant fenofibrate and rosuvastatin therapy in patients with diabetes or atherosclerosis with metabolic syndrome. Methods: After treatment with rosuvastatin 5 mg/day for 12 weeks, 112 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg/day rosuvastatin (group A) or 80 mg/day supra-film coated fenofibrate plus 5 mg/day rosuvastatin (group B). The therapy effects were evaluated by measuring the serum lipid profile, liver and muscle enzymes, and renal function after the treatment period. Results: After the treatment, the total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non HDL-C, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride were comparable between the 2 groups. The change in the non-HDL-C were -7.39 ± 26.58 (-6.62%) and -0.68 ± 24.49 (-1.19%) mg/dl (p = 0.28); and the change in the triglyceride were -36.61 ± 62.51 (-14.00%) and -44.77 ± 77.35 (-23.17%) mg/dl (p = 0.64), respectively. While 41.37% of group A and 38.69% of group B achieved their LDL-C goal (< 100 mg/dl) (p = 0.79), 37.26% of group A and 42.31% of group B achieved their triglyceride goal (< 150 mg/dl) (p = 0.53), respectively. The changes in the serum transaminase and creatinine phosphokinase were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusions: After 5 mg/day of rosuvastatin, the lipid profile in patients with diabetes or atherosclerotic vascular diseases with metabolic syndrome could be improved by increasing rosuvastatin dose, and the resultant decrease of non-HDL and triglyceride were similar to those obtained with combination therapy. Both therapies were safe and feasible.