Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE)
Sacks FM et al. Am J Cardiol. 1995;75:621-623.
Pfeffer MA et al. Am J Cardiol. 1995;76:98C-106C.
Sacks FM et al. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:1001-1009.
The CARE trial was designed to determine how effectively pravastatin (Pravachol) would reduce heart attacks and death in individuals with a history of heart disease and average cholesterol levels. This 5-year study enrolled 4,159 men and women aged 21 to 75 years. Participants enrolled in the study had met the following lipid criteria: Total Cholesterol under 240 mg/dL (average = 209 mg/dL), LDL of 115-174 mg/dL, and Triglycerides under 350 mg/dL. Patients were given either pravastatin (Pravachol) 40 mg/day or placebo, in addition to the NCEP recommendations for diet therapy.
Compared with the placebo group, the following lipid changes were observed in the pravastatin group:
Total Cholesterol reduced 20%
LDL (bad lipid) reduced 28%
HDL (good lipid) increased 5%
Triglycerides reduced 14%
A 24% reduction in heart attacks and death was seen in people taking pravastatin compared to those taking placebo. The pravastatin group also showed a 26% reduction in the need for bypass surgery and a 23% reduction in the need for angioplasty during the 5 year study. This study shows that people with heart disease and average cholesterol levels can have substantial reductions in their risk for heart attacks, death or need for cardiac procedures or surgery. This study also showed that people over the age of 65 benefited just as much, if not more, than people under 65.
CARE: Improving lipid levels in people with heart disease and average cholesterol levels.
