British Medical Journal (The BMJ)Rosuvastatin vs. Atorvastatin Treatment in Adults with Coronary Artery Disease: Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LODESTAR Trial

Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin Show Comparable Efficacy in Coronary Artery Disease, with Notable Differences in Side Effects

A comprehensive study comparing the long-term efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in adults with coronary artery disease has been conducted. The study provides valuable insights into the comparative benefits and risks of these two commonly prescribed statins.

Study Design

• The study was a randomized, open-label, multicenter trial conducted across 12 hospitals in South Korea from September 2016 to November 2019.
• The study involved 4400 adults aged 19 years or older with coronary artery disease.
• Participants were randomly assigned to receive either rosuvastatin (n=2204) or atorvastatin (n=2196).

Key Findings

• Of the 4,400 participants, 4,341 (98.7%) completed the trial.
• The primary outcome, a three-year composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or any coronary revascularization, occurred in 8.7% of the rosuvastatin group and 8.2% of the atorvastatin group.
• The rosuvastatin group had a higher incidence of new onset diabetes mellitus requiring initiation of antidiabetics (7.2% vs. 5.3%) and cataract surgery (2.5% vs. 1.5%).

According to the World Health Organization, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.

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