Clinical experience with ezetimibe/simvastatin in a Mediterranean population

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical experience of the ezetimibe (EZE)/simvastatin (SIMVA) combination in a hypercholesterolaemic Greek population who did not attain the cholesterol goals on statin treatment alone.Methods: Patients already treated with a statin, at any dose, for at least 8 weeks, with LDL-C levels above the goal, (>100, >130 or >160 mg/dl according to their risk category), where the physician chose EZE/SIMVA as appropriate treatment, entered the study. Medical history, demographics and laboratory values were recorded at baseline and 2 months later.Results: The study included 1514 patients (male 53.4%) of mean age 60.1 ± 10.5 years. Diabetes mellitus was reported in 29.9% of the patients, 61.2% had hypertension, 39% were obese, 10.5% had a history of myocardial infarction and 6.8% had a history of stroke or peripheral arterial disease. Current and ex-smoking was reported in 46.8%. Atorvastatin (33%) and SIMVA (27.2%) were the most frequently used statins prior to u...