Association of Pitavastatin Versus Atorvastatin Therapy With Glycaemic Control and New-Onset Diabetes in Older Adults With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
Statins are first-line therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but their differential effects on glucose metabolism, particularly in the elderly, remain a clinical concern. This study aimed to compare the effects of pitavastatin versus atorvastatin on glucose metabolism in elderly patients with ASCVD.
In this retrospective cohort study conducted at Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University between January 2022 and December 2023, 126 elderly ASCVD patients aged ≥60 years were included and allocated to either the pitavastatin group (4 mg/day, n = 58) or the atorvastatin group (20 mg/day, n = 68). Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 months of treatment to measure lipid profiles, glucose metabolism parameters, liver function, and renal function.
After treatment, the pitavastatin group demonstrated significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.41 ± 0.30 mmol/L vs. 1.26 ± 0.28 mmol/L, p = 0.005). Regarding glucose metabolism, the pitavastatin group showed lower fasting plasma glucose (5.85 ± 0.70 mmol/L vs. 6.19 ± 0.85 mmol/L, p = 0.018) and glycated hemoglobin (6.10 ± 0.42% vs. 6.33 ± 0.51%, p = 0.009). No cases of new-onset diabetes were detected in the pitavastatin group, as compared to the 10.29% rate observed in the atorvastatin group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed pitavastatin as a protective factor against new-onset diabetes (odds ratio = 0.212, p = 0.018).
Compared with atorvastatin, pitavastatin may be associated with better glycemic outcomes and a lower risk of new-onset diabetes in elderly ASCVD patients, supporting its consideration in clinical practice where glycemic control is a concern.
In this retrospective cohort study conducted at Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University between January 2022 and December 2023, 126 elderly ASCVD patients aged ≥60 years were included and allocated to either the pitavastatin group (4 mg/day, n = 58) or the atorvastatin group (20 mg/day, n = 68). Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 months of treatment to measure lipid profiles, glucose metabolism parameters, liver function, and renal function.
After treatment, the pitavastatin group demonstrated significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.41 ± 0.30 mmol/L vs. 1.26 ± 0.28 mmol/L, p = 0.005). Regarding glucose metabolism, the pitavastatin group showed lower fasting plasma glucose (5.85 ± 0.70 mmol/L vs. 6.19 ± 0.85 mmol/L, p = 0.018) and glycated hemoglobin (6.10 ± 0.42% vs. 6.33 ± 0.51%, p = 0.009). No cases of new-onset diabetes were detected in the pitavastatin group, as compared to the 10.29% rate observed in the atorvastatin group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed pitavastatin as a protective factor against new-onset diabetes (odds ratio = 0.212, p = 0.018).
Compared with atorvastatin, pitavastatin may be associated with better glycemic outcomes and a lower risk of new-onset diabetes in elderly ASCVD patients, supporting its consideration in clinical practice where glycemic control is a concern.