Combined lipid goal attainment in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia - A head-to-head comparative trial of statins - Abstract, Methods, Results, Conclusion

Q: What combined lipid goals were assessed in this trial?

The study targeted LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L and non–HDL-C <3.4 mmol/L in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Q: How were patients assigned to simvastatin versus rosuvastatin?

After a 5-week run-in, 89 patients were randomized to receive simvastatin with escalating doses or rosuvastatin with escalating doses, followed through week 12.

Q: Did simvastatin and rosuvastatin achieve similar rates of the combined lipid goal?

Yes. The combined goal was achieved by 84% with simvastatin and 89% with rosuvastatin, with no significant between-group difference reported.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair

Study evaluates two statin regimens for achieving dual lipid targets in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia: LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L and non–HDL-C <3.4 mmol/L. After a 5-week run-in, 89 randomized participants received either simvastatin with escalating doses or rosuvastatin with escalating doses. The primary endpoint assessed combined-goal attainment at week 12, comparing lipid changes and treatment tolerance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Rationale and current consensus

Statin differences and need for head-to-head comparisons

J Chin MedAssoc Original article Combined lipid goal attainment in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia: A head-to-head comparative trial of statins Tsung-Hui Wua, I-Te Leeb,c, Low-Tone Hoa,c,d, Wayne H.-H. Sheua,c, Chii-Min Hwua,c,* aSection of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; bDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; cFaculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; dDepartment of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Abstract Background: This study compared the efficacy of two statin treatments (simvastatin vs rosuvastatin) in achieving the combined goal of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <2 .6 mmol/L and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) <3 .4 mmol/L in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. Methods: After a 5-week run-in, 89 patients with type 2 diabetes having fasting triglyceride (TG) levels of 1.7 to 5.7 mmol/L or non–HDL-C levels of 3.4 to 5.2 mmol/L were randomized to receive simvastatin 20 mg daily for 4 weeks followed by 40 mg for 8 weeks or rosuvastatin 10 mg for 4 weeks followed by 20 mg for 8 weeks. The primary end-point was the percentage of patients achieving the combined goal at week 12. Results: Although significant between-group differences were observed in changes in LDL-C and non–HDL-C levels, both study treatments were sufficiently intensive for a 40% to 55% LDL-C reduction. At the end of the study, the two groups had similar percentages of patients who achieved the combined lipid goal (84% vs 89%, p = 0.66) . All patients who attained the combined lipid goal also met the apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) target of <0 .9 g/L. No between-group differences were noted in changes in HDL-C and TG levels at week 12. The patients tolerated both treatments well. Conclusion: In our study, ≈85% of patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia could achieve the combined lipid goal with statin monotherapy. The two statin treatments could sufficiently control diabetic dyslipidemia (NCT00506961) . Keywords: Dyslipidemia; Lipid goals; Rosuvastatin; Simvastatin; Type 2 diabetes 1. INTRODUCTION Diabetic dyslipidemia is characterized by elevated levels of triglycerides (TGs) and small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) .1 The atherogenic lipid profile contributes to the excess risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) .2 Current consensus for the management of diabetic dyslipidemia recommends that the primary lipid goal of treatment is LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L, and a non–HDL-C goal of <3.4 mmol/L is a secondary target for primary CVD prevention.3,4 *Address correspondence. Dr. Chii-Min Hwu, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan, ROC. E-mail address: chhwu@ [vghtpe.gov.tw](vghtpe.gov.tw) (C.-M. Hwu) Conflicts of interest: Dr. Wayne H.-H. Sheu, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article. Journal of Chinese Medical Association. (2022) 85: 831-838. Received January 19, 2022; accepted April 16, 2022. doi: 10. 1097/JCMA.0000000000000765. Copyright © 2022, the Chinese Medical Association. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/)[ ](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/)[by-nc-nd/4.0/](by-nc-nd/4.0/)) Extensive evidence supports these recommendati

FAQs

What combined lipid goals were assessed in this trial?

The study targeted LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L and non–HDL-C <3.4 mmol/L in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.

How were patients assigned to simvastatin versus rosuvastatin?

After a 5-week run-in, 89 patients were randomized to receive simvastatin with escalating doses or rosuvastatin with escalating doses, followed through week 12.

Did simvastatin and rosuvastatin achieve similar rates of the combined lipid goal?

Yes. The combined goal was achieved by 84% with simvastatin and 89% with rosuvastatin, with no significant between-group difference reported.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair