Echocardiographic and exercise test findings in patients with dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease before and after treatment with simvastatin with or without fenofibrate

ABSTRACT

Various treatment protocols for dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease have been suggested. In spite of lipid-lowering effects, various effects of statins and fi-brates have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac efficacy of Simvastatin with or without fenofibrate on cardiac function. A cohort study was conducted on 124 patients with dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease. Patients were randomly divided into two groups the first group [n = 64] received Simvastatin [60 - 20 mg/day] and fenofibrate [200 mg/day], and the second group [n = 60] received Simvastatin [20 - 60 mg/day] alone. Treatment lasted l year, and the patients were evaluated after treatment. The mean age was 54.3 + 6.5 years, and 53.2% of patients were male. Compared to baseline, after 12 months of treatment the lipid profiles of both groups decreased significantly [P< 0.05]. The change in left-ventricular ejection fraction in the first group was statistically significant [P = 0.01]. The exercise test time and metabolic equivalent of tasks index significantly increased in the first group [P = 0.014, P = 0.006], but these changes were not significant in the second group [P = 0.289, P = 0.744]. Lipid-regulating therapies including Simvastatin and fenofibrate improved myocardial function and reduced myocardial ischemia, so combined therapy is recommended for treating dyslipidemia in high-risk patients for cardiovascular problems