Cited by 3,489Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthAcute Myocardial Infarction ResearchCholesterol and Lipid Metabolism

Intensive Lipid Lowering with Atorvastatin in Patients with Stable Coronary Disease

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LaRosa, John C., Grundy, Scott M., Waters, David D., Shear, Charles, Barter, Philip, Fruchart, Jean-Charles, Gotto, Antonio M., Greten, Heiner +3 more·2005·New England Journal of Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous trials have demonstrated that lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below currently recommended levels is beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndromes. We prospectively assessed the efficacy and safety of lowering LDL cholesterol levels below 100 mg per deciliter (2.6 mmol per liter) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A total of 10,001 patients with clinically evident CHD and LDL cholesterol levels of less than 130 mg per deciliter (3.4 mmol per liter) were randomly assigned to double-blind therapy and received either 10 mg or 80 mg of atorvastatin per day. Patients were followed for a median of 4.9 years. The primary end point was the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event, defined as death from CHD, nonfatal non-procedure-related myocardial infarction, resuscitation after cardiac arrest, or fatal or nonfatal stroke. RESULTS: The mean LDL cholesterol levels were 77 mg per deciliter (2.0 mmol per liter) during treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin and 101 mg per deciliter (2.6 mmol per liter) during treatment with 10 mg of atorvastatin. The incidence of persistent elevations in liver aminotransferase levels was 0.2 percent in the group given 10 mg of atorvastatin and 1.2 percent in the group given 80 mg of atorvastatin (P<0.001). A primary event occurred in 434 patients (8.7 percent) receiving 80 mg of atorvastatin, as compared with 548 patients (10.9 percent) receiving 10 mg of atorvastatin, representing an absolute reduction in the rate of major cardiovascular events of 2.2 percent and a 22 percent relative reduction in risk (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.69 to 0.89; P<0.001). There was no difference between the two treatment groups in overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive lipid-lowering therapy with 80 mg of atorvastatin per day in patients with stable CHD provides significant clinical benefit beyond that afforded by treatment with 10 mg of atorvastatin per day. This occurred with a greater incidence of elevated aminotransferase levels.

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  • The rate of discontinuation of evolocumab injections because of adverse events ascribed to the drug compares favorably to rates with atorvastatin 80 mg daily (1.5% per year) and ezetimibe (1.1% per year) in other trials.

    “and compares favorably to the rates that have been found with atorvastatin at a dose of 80 mg daily (1.5% per year) and with ezetimibe (1.1% per year) in other trials.14,15”
  • The observed annualized primary endpoint event rate for placebo patients in REDUCE-IT is consistent with historical cardiovascular outcome studies with comparable patient populations and expanded or hard MACE.

    “The observed annualized primary endpoint event rate for placebo patients in REDUCE-IT was 5.74%, which is consistent with historical cardiovascular outcome studies, including those published since the design of REDUCE-IT, with comparable patient populations and expanded or hard major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (4,8,9,30-44).”

    From Effects of Icosapent Ethyl on Total Ischemic Events (2019) · cites this paper as [34]

  • Trial evidence confirms that statin therapy adds benefit in primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.

    “Although healthy lifestyle habits remain a cornerstone of T2DM management, trial data have confirmed the additional benefits of statin therapy in the primary and secondary prevention of CAD.13,102–112”
  • A large body of evidence shows that statin strategies produce similar LDL cholesterol lowering and relative cardiovascular risk reduction in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

    “A large body of evidence indicates that statin-based strategies convey similar LDL-C lowering and relative cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with and those without T2DM.102–112”
  • Cholesterol-lowering therapy in adults at high CVD risk due to LDL-C or other risk factors, including arterial hypertension, reduces the risk of stroke or TIA.

    “The use of cholesterol-lowering therapy in adults at high risk of CVD due to LDL-C or other CV risk factors, including arterial hypertension, reduces the risk of stroke or TIA.26,30,33,210,211”

    From ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias (2011) · cites this paper as [33]

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  1. [8]8. ed guidelines yield incremental clinical benefit? Am J Cardiol 2004;93:154-8.

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Authors
LaRosa, J. C., Grundy, S. M., Waters, D. D., Shear, C., Barter, P., Fruchart, J.-C., Gotto, A. M., Greten, H., Kastelein, J. J. P., Shepherd, J., & Wenger, N. K.
Affiliations
  • State University of New York (US)
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
  • San Francisco General Hospital (US)
  • Pfizer (United States) (US)
  • The Heart Research Institute (AU)
  • Institut Pasteur de Lille (FR)
  • Cornell University (US)
  • University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
  • Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
  • Emory University (US)
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Published
2005-04-07
Volume
352
Issue
14
Pages
1425-1435
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
OpenAlex
W2139168645
Cited by
3,489
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 49 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 79 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 90 · 2019: 104 · 2018: 142 · 2017: 143 · 2016: 142 · 2015: 168 · 2014: 184 · 2013: 173 · 2012: 183
FWCI
326.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Acute Myocardial Infarction Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
Keywords
atorvastatin, intensive lipid lowering, LDL cholesterol, stable coronary artery disease, major cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, stroke, statin dose comparison, cardiovascular mortality, drug safety
MeSH terms
Atorvastatin, Adult, Aged, Alanine Transaminase, Anticholesteremic Agents, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, Coronary Disease, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Heptanoic Acids, Humans, Cholesterol, LDL, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Pyrroles, Risk, Triglycerides, Incidence, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

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