Effectiveness and Safety of Very-Low-Dose Rosuvastatin-Ezetimibe Therapy in Korean Patients with Dyslipidaemia: A Multicentre Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives Dyslipidaemia is a key modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, achieving recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target levels is challenging owing to dose-dependent adverse effects and limited tolerability of high-dose statins. This study evaluated the real-world efficacy and safety of combining very-low-dose rosuvastatin (2.5 mg) with ezetimibe (10 mg) in adult patients with dyslipidaemia across different cardiovascular risk strata. Methods This multicentre prospective study in South Korea enrolled 2,388 patients. Participants were stratified into low-, moderate-, or high-risk groups on the basis of the 2019 European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines. Lipid profiles and safety outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. The primary and secondary outcomes were LDL-C and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) target level achievements, respectively, and adverse events were monitored. Results After 12 weeks, LDL-C target levels were achieved by 82.6% of low-risk (< 116 mg/dL), 73.9% of moderate-risk (< 100 mg/dL), and 50.4% of high-risk (< 70 mg/dL) patients. Non-HDL-C target level achievement followed a similar trend. Combination therapy with ezetimibe and low-dose statin resulted in significant LDL-C reductions, compared with statins alone. Adverse events were infrequent (0.6%), and only 0.2% of patients discontinued treatment owing to medication-related concerns. Conclusions Very-low-dose rosuvastatin-ezetimibe combination therapy significantly lowered LDL-C levels and improved lipid profiles across various risk groups, demonstrating a favourable safety profile. These findings support its use as an effective, well-tolerated option for managing dyslipidaemia. Longer-term studies are warranted to evaluate sustained lipid control and cardiovascular outcomes.