Fifteen studies were included in the review: seven were of patients with newly initiated statin therapy (n=38,678 patients including 3,957 for rosuvastatin and 34,721 for other statins). All the included studies were retrospective cohort studies.
Rosuvastatin was associated with a greater reduction in LDL-C in patients who were newly initiated on statin therapy compared with other statins (29% to 52% versus 16% to 43%; seven studies). LDL-C goal attainment was consistently higher in patients who received rosuvastatin compared with those who received other statins (64% to 81% versus 34% to 73%; five studies).
Among patients with diabetes (two studies, n=4,993), HIV (one study, n=130) or who were elderly (two studies, n=12,360), rosuvastatin was associated with greater LDL-C reduction and LDL-C goal attainment compared with other statins.
Three studies examined patients who were switched to rosuvastatin from another statin. Further results were reported.