Clinical efficacy and safety of atorvastatin on atherosclerosis in advanced elderly patients / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of long-term use of atorvastatin on carotid atherosclerosis in advanced elderly patients.Methods Totally 61 elderly patients with carotid atherosclerosis were permitted into study.They were treated with atorvastatin (20 mg/d) and followed-up for five years.The carotid atherosclerosis parameter and the serum levels of TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C,fasting blood glucose (FBG),ALT,AST,STB,CB,Bun,Cr and creatine kinase (CK) were measured before and 5 years after treatment.Results During fellow-up,2 patients died of severe pneumonia and 1 patient died of operation complications of intestinal obstruction,with mortality rate of 4.9％.2 patients (3.4％) gave up treatment because of muscle-related side-effect.Data was collected in 56 patients achieving study end.There was significant decrease in LDL-C (P＜0.05) and increase in HDL-C (P＜0.05),but there was no change in serum levels of TC,TG,FBG,ALT,AST,STB,CB,BUN,Cr and CK (P＜0.05) after 5 years.The total area of carotid atherosclerosis plaque was reduced [(0.63±0.41)cm2 vs.(1.07±0.67)cm2,P＜0.05] and echo of carotid atherosclerosis plaque was enhanced (2.67±0.52 vs.1.53±0.44,P＜0.01),but carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) appeared no change after five years.Conclusions Atorvastatin is safe in the treatment of advanced elderly patients,it can make carotid atherosclerosis plaque smaller and stable after long-term treatment.