Comparison of the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin initiated at different starting doses in patients with dyslipidemia

Abstract

The NASDAC study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of atorvastatin at starting doses of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg. After an 8-week placebo washout period, 919 patients who were candidates for lipid-lowering therapy according to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines were randomized to 1 of 4 atorvastatin treatment groups: 10 mg (n = 229), 20 mg (n = 228), 40 mg (n = 231), and 80 mg (n = 231). Atorvastatin reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels dose dependently across the 10- to 80-mg-dose range (35.7%-52.2%). Each of the 20-, 40-, and 80-mg doses provided significantly greater decreases in LDL-C than all lower doses (P