Mayo Clinic proceedings
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · May 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialA community-based, randomized trial of ezetimibe added to statin therapy to attain NCEP ATP III goals for LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients: the ezetimibe add-on to statin for effectiveness (EASE) trial.
To determine the extent of reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and improvement in National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) LDL-C goal attainment when ezetimibe was added to ongoing statin therapy in a diverse population of community-based patients. ⋯ Across multiple subgroups, ezetimibe added to statin therapy consistently produced significant additional improvements in LDL-C levels and goal attainment, as well as in other lipoproteins, compared with addition of placebo. The addition of ezetimibe to statin therapy should be considered for patients not achieving their NCEP ATP III LDL-C goals while receiving statin therapy alone.
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Smoking is a well-established and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cessation of smoking clearly decreases the chances of a first or subsequent cardiovascular event. ⋯ Is nicotine, whether in tobacco products or in NRT, the cause of the cardiovascular consequences associated with tobacco use? Is using NRT to assist with smoking cessation safer than smoking? Should health care professionals avoid recommending NRT for patients with established cardiovascular disease? This article summarizes the mechanisms of harm associated with smoking and reviews the safety of NRT in both the general population and the population with cardiovascular disease. Recommendations for NRT use are offered.