Authors

• Diana Rudan — University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-9473-2517

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world with hyperlipidemia being one of the most important risk factors in their development. Therefore, numerous randomized controlled trials conducted, showed decrease morbidity and mortality from adverse cardiovascular events by effective lipid reduction. Statins are the most effective medications used in treatment of hyperlipidemia. Rosuvastatin represents a “new generation” statin. It is a synthetic statin that inhibits the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, and therefore reducing the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol. The major effect of rosuvastatin is the reduction of LDL-cholesterol, and total cholesterol in the blood. It is the only statin that has been shown to increase the levels of HDL-cholesterol up to 15%. The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-thrombotic effects of the drug were demonstrated in various studies, causing further decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, that effect is beyond the one described only by the reduction in total cholesterol levels. The most common side-effect of statin treatment is myalgia, causing the non-adherence and discontinuation of the medication, leading to “alternative” drug treatment. However, the approach of alternative drug treatment often showed itself to be ineffective solution. Since treating hyperlipidemia is crucial in reducing cardiovascular risk, the importance of adherence to treatment, and achieving patient compliance to statin therapy must be emphasized. Rosuvastatin is available in 6 different doses from 5 to 40 mg, allowing the physician to adjust the dose of medication according to the patient’s needs, to maintain highest treatment effect while reducing unwanted side-effects at the minimum.

Keywords

Ključne riječi: rosuvastatin, prevencija, kardiovaskularne bolesti, rosuvastatin, prevention, cardiovascular diseases

DOI

Full Text

## Conclusion Rosuvastatin is an hypolipemic drug, with numerous effects that cause significant reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol, and increase in HDL, used to achieve the targeted lipid profile. It is effective in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, especially in diabetics, and its effectiveness has been shown when treatment failure with other statins is present. Based on the current state of knowledge, statins have been a well-tested therapy of choice for more than 25 years. They not only effectively reduce the level of lipids in the blood, but also have many other beneficial effects, thus reducing cardiovascular risk and extending the patient’s lifespan ( 8 ). Statins are also a safe choice of therapy, since they have very few side-effects. Therefore when indicated, and should be taken lifelong. Unfortunately, due to inadequate education of both physicians and patients, and the lack in their communication, with consequent failure in adherence to the treatment, statin therapy is often discontinued, and even when taken regularly, it is often underdosed. However, continued physicians and patients education on the effectiveness, safety, and necessity of taking statins on the one side, and the possibility of titrating rosuvastatin on the other, will allow achieving targeted lipid values, and consequently enable the highest benefit from statin treatment.