The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7276 p703
22 November 2003

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Atorvastatin benefit in diabetes

Patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease treated with atorvastatin (Lipitor) can expect to halve their risk of a major vascular event. This finding comes from a subgroup analysis of the GREACE study, which included 313 patients with diabetes and established CHD. Of the patients treated with atorvastatin, 93 per cent reached their target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level compared with 4 per cent of patients in the usual care group. The researchers observed benefits within six months of starting treatment and saw a 59 per cent reduction in fatal and non-fatal vascular events after 12 months (Angiology 2003;54:T1).