Efficacy of ezetimibe is associated with gender and baseline lipid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aim: the combination of ezetimibe and a statin provides greater ldl-c reduction by inhibiting both intestinal cholesterol absorption and endogenous production of cholesterol. the present study was designed to examine the influence of ageing,gender,bmi,levels of ldl-c,and hba1c on the response to ezetimibe add-on therapy. methods: patients who had been taking a statin for >3 months at the usual dose and whose ldl-c was >120 mg/dl were eligible for this study. patients were assigned to receive add-on ezetimibe at 10 mg once daily for 12 weeks. results: adding ezetimibe to basal statin therapy resulted in a further 15.0% reduction of tc,20.5% reduction of ldl-c,and 19.7% reduction of non-hdl-c. the change in tc was significantly greater in males than in females. the change in tg was significantly greater in patients with a baseline tg level ≥150 mg/dl. multivariate regression analysis showed that male sex and ldl-c ≥140 mg/dl were independent predictors of tc reduction after adjustment for age,bmi,and hba1c. a baseline tg ≥150 mg/dl was also an independent predictor of tg reduction. conclusion: addition of ezetimibe to ongoing statin therapy was effective in patients with type 2 diabetes. male sex and baseline ldl-c levels are independent predictors of marked tc reduction by ezetimibe treatment.