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QUESTION: In men with coronary artery disease and low concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, is gemfibrozil effective for preventing stroke?
Design
Randomised {allocation concealed*}†, blinded {patients, outcome assessors, and study personnel}†,* placebo-controlled trial with mean 5.1 years of follow up (Veterans Affairs HDL Cholesterol Intervention Trial [VA-HIT]).
Setting
20 Veterans Affairs medical centres in the USA.
Patients
2531 men who were < 74 years of age (mean age 64 y) and had a confirmed diagnosis of coronary artery disease, an HDL cholesterol level < 1.03 mmol/l, a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level < 3.6 mmol/l, and a triglyceride level < 3.39 mmol/l. Follow up was complete.
Intervention
1264 men were allocated …
Footnotes
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Sources of funding: Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development, and Parke-Davis.
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For correspondence: Dr H B Rubins, Section of General Internal Medicine (1110), VAMC, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. Fax +1 612 725 2118.
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↵† Rubins HB, Robins SJ, Collins D, et al. N Engl J Med 1999;342:410–8.
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↵‡ p Value provided by author.
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↵§ p Value calculated from data in article.