Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of interrelated risk factors that leads to metabolic dysregulation and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease in people with metabolic syndrome has been well established by observational studies and meta-analyses.~Strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in primary and secondary prevention focus on the optimization of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. As recommended in current guidelines for lowering blood cholesterol, statins in addition to lifestyle modifications remain the first-line therapy to reduce LDL-C in patients at CVD risk. However, despite optimal reduction of LDL-C with statins and, correction of other modifiable risk factors, CVD risk is not eliminated. The source of this residual risk may be due to other atherogenic lipid species such as reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and/or raised triglycerides (TG) which are only modestly affected by statin therapy.~The use of fibrates in the treatment of dyslipidaemia has changed significantly over recent years.~The potential of fibrate-statin combination treatment is discussed in guidelines and by the medical community. Fenofibrate treatment usually reduce TG by 40-50%, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C by 5-20%, as well as small dense LDL by 10-30%.~While fibrates are generally well tolerated, combination with a statin might increase the risk of side effects and potentially that of myopathy. In the ACCORD study, fenofibrate coadministered with simvastatin was neither associated with any increase in the incidence of myopathy over that observed with simvastatin monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes, nor pointing out any safety concerns for the coadministration.~In view of the demonstrated lipid benefit and good safety profile, fenofibrate is suitable for add-on therapy with a statin to minimize the CVD residual risk.~This post-marketing observational study is conducted to assess effectiveness of fenofibrate (145 mg daily) as adjuvant therapy to statins administered for 6 months in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome.
This study is a prospective observational program within the frames of which Tricor (fenofibrate) is prescribed to patients with hypertriglyceridemia within a routine procedure as a part of the combination therapy with statins.