Meta-analysis comparing the effects of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin on regression of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Abstract

Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin both are high-intensity statins. However, which statin is more effective for the reversion of coronary atherosclerotic plaques remains inconclusive. We, therefore, conducted a meta-analysis to provide further evidence for proper statin selection. Pubmed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese BioMedicine, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched for eligible publications. We also manually reviewed the references from all relevant literature for more trials. Only studies that met our predefined inclusion criteria up to March 31, 2015, were enrolled. Five randomized controlled trials, 4 published in English and 1 in Chinese, were finally included in our study with a total of 1,556 participants, of whom 772 were in the rosuvastatin group and 784 in the atorvastatin group. The dose ratios of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin were 1:2 in all included trials. Pooling across the studies demonstrated that compared with atorvastatin, rosuvastatin administration further reduced the total atheroma volume (weighted mean difference [WMD] -1.61 mm(3), 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.70 to -0.52; p = 0.004) and percent atheroma volume (WMD -0.34%, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.03; p = 0.03) and improved the lumen volume more significantly (WMD 2.10 mm(3), 95% CI 0.04 to 4.17; p = 0.046). The comparative regression of plaques was not different across subgroups. In conclusion, rosuvastatin is superior to atorvastatin in the reversion of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

• Authors: Cheng Qian, Baozhu Wei, Jinye Ding, Huiting Wu, Xiaotao Cai, Benlei Li, Yanggan Wang
• Journal: The American journal of cardiology (Am J Cardiol) Vol. 116 Issue 10 Pg. 1521-6 (Nov 15 2015) ISSN: 1879-1913 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26385518 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Rosuvastatin Calcium
• Atorvastatin

Topics

• Atorvastatin (administration & dosage)
• Coronary Artery Disease (drug therapy)
• Coronary Vessels (diagnostic imaging)
• Disease Progression
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Rosuvastatin Calcium (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultrasonography, Interventional