Comparison of Rosuvastatin Versus Atorvastatin in South-Asian Patients at Risk of Coronary Heart Disease (from the IRIS Trial)

In a large randomized trial of statin therapy in patients of South-Asian origin with hypercholesterolemia, 740 patients in the United States and Canada received 6 weeks of treatment with rosuvastatin 10 or 20 mg or atorvastatin 10 or 20 mg. A total of 485 patients (66%) were categorized as being at high risk of coronary heart disease and had a National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III treatment goal of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol <100 mg/dl (<2.6 mmol/L). LDL cholesterol decreased by 45% with rosuvastatin 10 mg versus 40% with atorvastatin 10 mg (p = 0.0023) and by 50% with rosuvastatin 20 mg versus 47% with atorvastatin 20 mg (p = NS). National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III LDL cholesterol goal achievement rates in high-risk patients (all patients) were 76% (79%) and 88% (89%) with rosuvastatin 10 and 20 mg, respectively, compared with 70% (76%) and 81% (85%) with atorvastatin 10 and 20 mg, respectively. Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin were well tolerated. There were no clinically relevant differences between statins in adverse events or incidence of creatine kinase >10 times the upper limit of normal, alanine aminotransferase >3 times the upper limit of normal on 2 consecutive occasions, or proteinuria or hematuria over the relatively short duration of treatment. In conclusion, statin therapy was well tolerated and effective in decreasing LDL cholesterol in patients of South-Asian origin, with the 10- and 20-mg doses of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin allowing most patients to reach recommended LDL cholesterol goals.