Atorvastatin in patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Coronary artery disease (CAD) can manifest as a classic chest pain, or atypical angina. At the same time, the prevalence of CAD in a group of male patients with atypical angina over the age of 60 can reach 59--78%. It should be noted that the clinic manifestation of the chronic heart failure (CHF), which will be the main limiting factor, may take centre stage in diffuse coronary artery atherosclerosis. In patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure, who take atorvastatin, one should expect a decrease in the risk of adverse outcomes and hospitalizations due to heart failure. However, this does not negate the need for treatment and optimization of heart failure, if necessary. The therapy of these patients is based on the administration of high doses of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), beta-blockers (BB) and statins. The routine use of statins in heart failure with low ejection fraction (EF) is not recommended for the management of patients with heart failure from clinical guidelines point of view. This conclusion is based on two multicenter randomized clinical trials that have purposefully studied the use of statins in heart failure (CORONA and GISSI-HF). However, this document recommends the use of statins to prevent heart failure in patients with coronary artery disease. Continuing statin therapy in patients, who are already receiving these drugs for coronary artery disease or hyperlipidemia, should also be discussed. Thus, the use of atorvastatin in patients with coronary artery disease and systolic left ventricular myocardial dysfunction can reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and hospitalizations due to heart failure. In patients with non-ischemic heart failure, taking statins is not associated with improved survival. Thus, the decision to prescribe this group of drugs in patients with chronic heart failure should take into account the specific clinical situation and be strictly individualized.