{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.03115264797507788, 'fraction_numerical': 0.01921079958463136, 'mean_word_length': 4.7351190476190474, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 1, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Efficacy of atorvastatin in treating high risk patients to reach low density lipoprotein-cholesterol goals: the Treat to Target (TTT-Israel) Study.

BACKGROUND
Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Reducing low density lipoprotein-cholesterol can significantly reduce the risk of CHD, but many patients fail to reach the target LDL-C goals due to low doses of statins or low compliance.


OBJECTIVES
To treat high risk patients with atorvastatin in order to reach LDL-C goals (either primary or secondary prevention) of the Israel Atherosclerosis Society.


METHODS
In this open-label study of 3,276 patients (1,698 of whom were males, 52%), atorvastatin 10 mg was given as a first dose, with follow-up and adjustment of the dose every 6 weeks. While 1,670 patients did not receive prior hypolipidemic treatment, 1,606 were treated with other statins, fibrates or the combination of both.


RESULTS
After 6 weeks of treatment, 70% of the patients who did not receive prior hypolipidemic medications and who needed primary prevention reached target LDL-C levels. Interestingly, a similar number of patients who received prior hypolipidemic treatment (other statins, fibrates or both) and who did not reach the LDL-C treatment goals reached the LDL-C goals for primary prevention with atorvastatin. Only 34% of all patients who needed secondary prevention reached the ISA LDL-C target of 100 mg/dl. Atorvastatin proved to be completely safe, only two patients had creatine kinase elevation above 500 U/L, and another six had mild CK elevation (< 500 U/L). None of the patients had clinical myopathy, and only one had to be withdrawn from the study.


CONCLUSION
Atorvastatin is a safe and effective drug that enables most patients requiring primary prevention to reach LDL-C goal levels, even with a low dose of 10 mg. Patients in need of secondary prevention usually require higher doses of statins.