Achievement of target plasma cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolaemic patients being treated in general practice

Abstract

A total of 1028 hypercholesterolaemic men and women aged 18-75 participated in an open label, randomised, parallel group, 6-month treatment- to-target study conducted in 240 general practices throughout Australia. The study compared atorvastatin monotherapy with simvastatin monotherapy or, if necessary, with the combination of simvastatin and cholestyramine in terms of their abilities to achieve a plasma total cholesterol target of < 5.0 mmol/l. The initial daily dose of each drug was 10 mg. If the target was not achieved, the dose was doubled at 6 week intervals to a maximum daily dose of 80 mg atorvastatin or 40 mg simvastatin, with the simvastatin supplemented if necessary with 4 g choles..