Publication:

Efficacy of alternate day versus everyday dosing of rosuvastatin in hyperlipidemia

Background Hyperlipidemia is one of the common risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Statins are well established in treatment for lowering LDL-C, triglycerides, TC and improving HDL-C levels. Rosuvastatin is long acting and more efficacious than other statins in lesser dosages with good safety profile.

Methods In this prospective open label study, 42 patients with plasma LDL cholesterol of more than 130 mg/dl and total cholesterol more than 200 mg/dl were selected. After baseline tests they were randomly allocated to two groups. Oral 10 mg of rosuvastatin was given to group-A daily and group-B on alternative day for six weeks. Fasting plasma lipid profile was measured on 0 day, 4th and 6th week and serums ALT, AST were estimated in both the groups on 0 day, 6th week.

Results Statistical analysis was done with Student paired t-test. There was significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides and elevation of HDL after 4 weeks and 6weeks of the treatment in both the groups compared to baseline. The mean percentage change of TC-24%and 21.60%; LDL- 33.50% and 31%; HDL-19.89% and 17.09%; TG - 36.70%and 41.33%in once daily group and alternate day group respectively p<0.0001***. No significant elevation of the mean serum ALT and AST levels at any point of study.

Conclusions Rosuvastatin 10 mg on alternate days has similar efficacy in decreasing lipid levels and raising HDL levels compared to daily dose. The decrease in triglyceride levels was more significant than daily doses. Hence alternate day dosing of rosuvastatin may be an alternate regime and cost effective without a major decrease in therapeutic benefits and also decrease in adverse events in patients with hyperlipidemia.