Effects of Lowering Average or Below-Average Cholesterol Levels on the Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis
Why the study?
Does pravastatin 40 mg daily reduce the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina and average or below-average cholesterol levels?
Population
522 patients with a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina and with baseline levels of total…
Comparison
Pravastatin 40 mg daily added to a low fat diet vs Placebo added to a low fat diet
Design
RCT, randomized
Follow-up
4 years
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
Supports statin use in post-MI patients with average cholesterol; extends atherosclerosis benefit to normocholesterolemic CHD populations.
Structured PICO
Does pravastatin 40 mg daily reduce the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina and average or below-average cholesterol levels?
P
Population
522 patients with a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina and with baseline levels of total cholesterol between 4 and 7 mmol/L (mean, 5.7 mmol/L)
I
Intervention
Pravastatin 40 mg daily added to a low fat diet
C
Comparator
Placebo added to a low fat diet
O
Outcome
Change in mean carotid wall thickness assessed from B-mode ultrasound measurements of the common carotid artery at 4 yearssurrogate
Pravastatin 40 mg daily prevents the progression of carotid atherosclerosis over 4 years in patients with coronary heart disease and average or below-average cholesterol levels.
Cite This Study
MacMahon et al. (1998) studied this question.