The addition of ezetimibe [Zetia] to any statin at any dose level produces significantly greater reductions in LDL-cholesterol levels than the statin alone, according to results from a community-based study presented at the 53rd Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology [New Orleans, US; March 2004]. The EASE study, which involved over 3000 patients with hypercholesterolaemia showed that treatment with ezetimibe plus a statin reduced LDL-cholesterol levels by 26% from baseline, compared with a reduction of only 3% in patients receiving statin therapy alone. Other studies presented at the meeting showed that the combination of ezetimibe plus simvastatin was more effective than simvastatin or atorvastatin alone in patients with hypercholesterolaemia, including those receiving thiazolidinediones for type 2 diabetes mellitus.