Targeted versus global approaches to the management of hypercholesterolaemia.

AIMS: The role of statins in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is well established. However, there is debate about the most effective approach to primary prevention. This study simulated the effects of directed versus global approaches for intervention on coronary heart disease (CHD) event rates. METHODS: A primary prevention population was generated by computer simulation derived from data from the National Health Survey for England. The efficacy of reductions in cholesterol, treatment to cardiovascular risk targets and effects of phytosterols or statins were assessed. RESULTS: A 0.5 mmol/L reduction in population total cholesterol would result in a 10.4% reduction in CHD events, while 1.0 mmol/L, 1.5 mmol/L and 2.0 mmol/L reductions would achieve 21.0%, 30.6% and 41.9% reductions respectively. In statin-based cardiovascular risk targeted strategies, use of simvastatin 40 mg would result in 1.8% reduction by UK National Service Framework targets of 30%/decade CHD risk and 7.2% reduction in events for a 20%/decade target assuming perfect adherence. Similarly, aggressive primary prevention with 40 mg atorvastatin would result in a 2.5% or 10% reduction in events. Universal use of 10 mg simvastatin following an over-the-counter approach would result in a 25% reduction in CHD events. In contrast, whole population consumption of sitostanol/sitosterol products would result in 11.8% reduction. CONCLUSION: Targeting and treating high-risk individuals may be beneficial for them and rewarding for medical practitioners. However, this approach has minimal effects on the population burden of atherosclerotic disease. This study suggests that universal therapy with phytosterols and/or wider availability of statins has the potential to dramatically decrease rates of CHD.

[Drug of the month. Rosuvastatin (Crestor)]. / Le médicament du mois. Rosuvastatine (Crestor).

Rosuvastatin (Crestor) has been recently launched in Belgium by AstraZeneca. This new statin is indicated for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia or combined dyslipidaemia, when changes in dietary habits are insufficient. Direct comparative randomised clinical trials with other statins demonstrated that rosuvastatin exerts a more favourable impact on lipid profile. When compared on a mg basis to other statins, rosuvastatin is associated with a greater reduction in total and LDL cholesterol levels and a greater increase of HDL cholesterol concentration, with a similar decrease in triglyceride levels. At the usual dosage of 10 mg, rosuvastatin allowed to reduce LDL cholesterol below recommended target levels for at risk patients among almost 80% of treated individuals in phase III clinical trials. If necessary, the daily dosage may be increased to 20 mg, or up to 40 mg (maximal dose), mostly in case of severe familial hypercholesterolaemia. Safety profile is good and similar to that of other commercialised statins. Rosuvastatin is currently evaluated in an extensive programme of randomised clinical trials (Galaxy programme) in order to demonstrate its efficacy in both prevention of atherosclerosis and reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.