Abstract
Background：Combination therapy with a statin and ezetimibe is recognized as a useful therapeutic option for reducing the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of switching from statin-monotherapy to statin/ezetimibe combination therapy on lipid and metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and dyslipidemia. The study also assessed the clinical characteristics of patients who achieved or did not achieve their individual treatment target of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level after 12 months of combination therapy. Methods：Patients with T2D and dyslipidemia received ezetimibe 10 mg per day for 12 months as an add-on to background statin treatment. The changes in lipid and inflammatory markers after initiation of statin/ezetimibe combination therapy were evaluated. In addition, we examined the clinical characteristics of participants who achieved or not achieve their target LDL-C level. Results：A total of 15 patients (mean age 65.7 ± 8.7 yr, 6 females) were included in the analyses. The levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C were decreased significantly at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to baseline values, whereas the levels of the other laboratory parameters remained unchanged at each time point. Six patients (40.0%) achieved their target LDL-C level, while 9 patients (60.0%) did not. The subgroup of patients who did not achieve their LDL-C targets had significantly higher baseline levels of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C compared to the subgroup who achieved their target. Conclusions：Switching from statin-monotherapy to statin/ezetimibe combination therapy was effective for reducing LDL-C levels. However, patients with higher baseline TC and LDL-C levels may require further intensive treatment to achieve their target level of LDL-C.
