ArticlePDF Available

Design and baseline characteristics of a study of primary prevention of coronary events with pravastatin among Japanese with mildly elevated cholesterol levels

Authors:

Abstract and Figures

Background Although cholesterol management reportedly reduces fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) events in subjects with or without evident atherosclerotic disease, it is still uncertain whether these benefits extend to Japanese. Methods and Results The study group comprised 8,009 subjects with mildly elevated total cholesterol who were randomized to treatment with 10-20 mg pravastatin plus diet (2,691 women, 1,267 men) or diet alone (2,758 women, 1,293 men). The groups were extremely well balanced with respect to baseline demographics and risk factors such as blood pressure and plasma lipids. Over a 5-year period of follow-up, the primary end-points will be a composite of fatal and non-fatal coronary events. Secondary end-points will include stroke and transient ischemic attack, all cardiovascular events and total mortality. Conclusions The 2 groups will be followed up until the end of March 2004 and end-points will be analyzed by full analysis set.
Content may be subject to copyright.
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
ince the development of statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-
glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) in 1989,
their strong efficacy in lowering blood cholesterol
was first noted in the early 1990s1,2 and it became clear that
evidence was needed to confirm their effects on the athero-
sclerotic process.
Previous studies have consistently shown a slowing of
lesion progression, but there was little actual differences in
stenosis compared with a placebo group.
1–3 However, key
pieces of evidence were still missing: to what extent would
the vascular benefit translate into reduced risk for clinical
events and would substantial lipid lowering be safe.
Cholesterol-lowering therapy has been shown to reduce
fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD) events in
Caucasian subjects with or without coronary disease,
4–9
but it is still uncertain whether these benefits extend to
Japanese. Compared with Caucasians, Japanese have some
characteristics that might modify treatment effects, such
as a much lower age-standardized death rate from CHD,
10
a higher proportion of hemorrhagic stroke,
10 overall lower
blood cholesterol concentration,
11 a diet that typically con-
tains less saturated fat and cholesterol intake,
11 and relative-
ly small physical stature.
A large-scale cohort study of the relationship between
serum cholesterol concentration and coronary events with
low-dose simvastatin therapy has been conducted in
Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia, but without a
control group.
12,13 Thus, a randomized study was designed
to compare the effect on pravastatin plus diet with diet
alone for the prevention of major CHD events in Japanese
men and women without clinically evident atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease and with mildly elevated total
cholesterol levels. This study will be the largest long-term
controlled study yet conducted among Orientals in Asia.
Methods
Subjects
Between 1994 and 1999, a total of 15,210 subjects were
temporarily registered in 924 hospitals throughout Japan
based on their age, gender and cholesterol concentration,
which was determined by the relevant institutions. The
relatively long period for registration was required because
of alterations to the rules for post-marketing surveys and
the immature infra-structure of the trial’s organization.
After registration, participants were instructed to adhere
to the dietary advice, which was based on the National
Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step I diet.14
After at least a 4-week washout period during which
subjects were encouraged to comply with the low fat and
low cholesterol diet, blood cholesterol was determined by a
standardized procedure on 2 or 3 occasions over 12 weeks.
The baseline cholesterol was estimated as the average of
these measurements and for entry to the study was required
to be 220–270 mg/dl. Of the total cohort, 8,214 subjects
met the inclusion criterion. Eligible subjects included men
aged 40–70 years, and post-menopausal women up to 70
years of age. Exclusion criteria included familial hyper-
cholesterolemia; a history of angina pectoris, myocardial
infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percu-
taneous coronary intervention; electrocardiographic abnor-
malities consistent with myocardial ischemia; a history of
peripheral arterial disease, stroke or transient ischemic
Circ J 2004; 68: 860 – 867
(Received October 22, 2003; revised manuscript received June 4,
2004; accepted June 23, 2004)
Members of the MEGA Study Group are shown in Appendix 2.
Mailing address: Haruo Nakamura, MD, Mitsukoshi Health and
Welfare Foundation, STEC Jyoho Building, 1-24-1 Nishishinjuku
Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Design and Baseline Characteristics of a Study of Primary
Prevention of Coronary Events With Pravastatin Among
Japanese With Mildly Elevated Cholesterol Levels
Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group
of Adult Japanese (MEGA) Study Group
Background Although cholesterol management reportedly reduces fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease
(CHD) events in subjects with or without evident atherosclerotic disease, it is still uncertain whether these bene-
fits extend to Japanese.
Methods and Results The study group comprised 8,009 subjects with mildly elevated total cholesterol who
were randomized to treatment with 10–20 mg pravastatin plus diet (2,691 women, 1,267 men) or diet alone (2,758
women, 1,293 men). The groups were extremely well balanced with respect to baseline demographics and risk
factors such as blood pressure and plasma lipids. Over a 5-year period of follow-up, the primary end-points will
be a composite of fatal and non-fatal coronary events. Secondary end-points will include stroke and transient
ischemic attack, all cardiovascular events and total mortality.
Conclusions The 2 groups will be followed up until the end of March 2004 and end-points will be analyzed by
full analysis set. (Circ J 2004; 68: 860 – 867)
Key Words: Cholesterol; Coronary heart disease; Pravastatin; Primary prevention
S
861
Management of Elevated Cholesterol Among Japanese
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
attack; a diagnosis of congenital or rheumatic heart disease;
chronic atrial fibrillation; current diagnosis of malignancy;
severe liver (chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis) or renal
(creatinine 4mg/dl) disease; poorly controlled hyper-
tension or diabetes mellitus; secondary hyperlipidemia;
current use of oral or parenteral corticosteroids; and other
conditions at the discretion of the individual physician.
After exclusions, 8,009 subjects who still met all the
criteria and who provided written informed consent were
randomized to treatment with either diet alone or diet plus
pravastatin (10–20 mg/day, the particular dose needed to
decrease total cholesterol to less than 220 mg/dl) in an
open-label, parallel-group design (Fig l).
Study Management and Follow-up
It is planned that subjects will be followed up over 5
years. The subjects will be seen at 3–6 month intervals and
at each visit dietary advice will be reinforced and fasting
plasma lipids measured. Compliance with the dietary or
drug regimen will be checked at every visit and the sub-
jects’ responses to a questionnaire, which will be given in
every dietary practicing meeting, will be collected. An
electrocardiogram (ECG) will be recorded annually.
Other treatments, both for cardiovascular and non-
cardiovascular conditions, will be at the discretion of the
patients’ primary physicians and this includes commence-
ment of lipid-lowering therapy other than with statins in
those subjects randomized to diet alone, if this is consid-
ered appropriate.
An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee
reviews study progress at periodic intervals from the
ethical, safety and efficacy stand points, and is responsible
for taking appropriate action if the data suggest that there
may be an unacceptable risk to the subjects in the study.
The stopping rule will be blinded for all participating
physicians and members of steering committee.
Administrative, clinical and data management are per-
formed by a contract research organization that is indepen-
dent of the sponsors.
Laboratory Methods
All lipid values are measured centrally at the Special
Reference Laboratory (SRL, Hachioji, Tokyo), which is
certified for major lipid measurements by the Center for
Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Total serum
cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) concentrations are deter-
mined enzymatically.
15 Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol is calculated according to the formula described
by Friedewald et al16 using high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol values measured with a homogeneous assay
from Daiichi Chemical Co (Tokyo). If the serum TG con-
centration is greater than >300 mg/dl, the LDL cholesterol
is determined by direct assay kit (Cholestest LDL, Daiichi
Pure Chemicals, Tokyo, Japan). Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is
also measured annually by an antihuman Lp(a) monoclonal
antibody-coated latex assay kit [Lp(a) Latex ‘DAIICHI’,
Daiichi Pure Chemicals]. Hemoglobin A1c is measured
by Hi-AUTO A1c kit of the HA-8150 series (Arkray Co
Kyoto, Japan).
All other laboratory parameters are determined routinely
by automated analyzers in each participating hospital.
Endpoints
The primary endpoint of the study is a composite of
major CHD events, comprising fatal or nonfatal myocardial
infarction, sudden cardiac death, development of unstable
angina and coronary revascularization procedures, either
coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary
intervention.
Secondary endpoints include cerebral infarction, cerebral
Fig 1. Flow diagram of participants.
862 MEGA Study Group
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, all cardiovascular
events, and total mortality, as listed in Appendix 1.
Tertiary endpoints include tolerability and safety param-
eters, noncardiovascular mortality, fatal and non-fatal
cancer, and the relationship between CHD event rates and
baseline concentrations and changes in lipid parameters.
Reports of the major endpoints are reviewed and classi-
fied by an Endpoint Committee.
Statistical Analysis
Endpoints will be analyzed mainly on full analysis set
and according to treatment actually received (per protocol).
A log-rank test will be used to assess the effect of therapy
on the rate of primary endpoint events. Analyses of relative
reductions in risk resulting from statin treatment are to be
calculated using the Cox proportional hazards regression
model. Cumulative incidence of events and interval esti-
mates are to be calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
One-sided probability values of <0.05 will be considered
to indicate a statistically significant difference.
Power Calculations The CHD morbidity and mortality
in the general Japanese population is estimated at 5.3/1,000
person years.
17
The following assumptions are also made: an annual
CHD death for all males aged 40–70 years of 0.9/1,000;18
annual rates of major nonfatal CHD events twice that of
CHD deaths; a combined incidence of fatal and nonfatal
CHD events in those with total cholesterol of 220 mg/dl or
more, twice that of the general population (therefore in this
study cohort a combined incidence of approximately
5.6/1,000 per year); decrease in rates of the composite
CHD endpoint of 10% in the group randomized to diet and
40% in the group randomized to diet plus statin. Also, an
assumed 20% drop-in to treatment in these randomized to
diet alone or drop-out in these randomized to also receive
statin, randomization of 8,000 subjects has 80% power
withα=0.10 (two-sided).
Results
Baseline Characteristics
Recruitment commenced in March, 1994 and concluded
in September 1999. At that time, 8,009 participants were
randomized to treatment with diet alone (2,758 women,
1,293 men) or with pravastatin plus diet (2,691 women,
1,267 men) (Table 1). The groups were extremely well
balanced with respect to the baseline demographics and
risk factors. The difference in diastolic blood pressure was
small in absolute terms.
Combined mean lipid parameters included the mean
(SD) total cholesterol 242.6 (12) mg/dl; mean (SD) LDL-
cholesterol 156.9 (18) mg/dl; mean (SD) HDL-cholesterol
57.3 (15) mg/dl; median TG 128 mg/dl; and median lipo-
protein(a) 15 mg/dl.
Discussion
Compelling epidemiological data have related serum
cholesterol concentrations to the risk of CHD events in
both Western populations19 and in a cross-sectional study
in Japan.
20 However, there has been considerable controver-
sy concerning both the benefits and, to a lesser extent, the
safety of cholesterol-lowering therapy, partly because prior
to the availability of the 3-hydroxymethyl-3-glutaryl coen-
zyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, trials had tested
interventions that only lowered cholesterol by approxi-
Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of the Study Subjects With High Cholesterol
Diet Diet plus pravastatin
(n=4,051) (n=3,958)
Men aged 39–71 years (%) 1,293 (50.5) 1,267 (49.5)
Women aged 37–74 years (%) 2,758 (50.6) 2,691 (49.4)
Age, mean (SD) years 59 ( 7) 59 ( 7)
Men 55.2 55
Women 59.8 59.6
65 years (%)
Men 224 (17.3) 210 (16.6)
Women 720 (26.1) 695 (25.8)
Height, mean (SD), cm 156.6 ( 8) 156.6 ( 8)
Weight, mean (SD), kg 58.6 (10) 58.7 (10)
Body mass index, mean (SD), kg/m2 23.8 ( 3) 23.9 ( 3)
Current smoker (%) 595 (14.9) 618 (16.0)
Major complications (%)
Hypertension 1,647 (41.2) 1,574 (40.6)
Diabetes 810 (20.3) 779 (20.1)
Liver disease 274 ( 6.9) 264 ( 6.8)
Renal disease 85 ( 2.1) 62 ( 1.6)
Plasma lipid concentrations
TC, mean (SD), mg/dl 242.5 (12.1) 242.6 (12.0)
LDL-C, mean (SD), mg/dl 155.6 (18.6) 156.2 (18.2)
HDL-C, mean (SD), mg/dl 57.4 (15.1) 57.3 (14.8)
TG, median, mg/dl 128 128
Lp(a), median, mg/dl 15 15
Blood pressure, mean (SD), mmHg
Systolic 132.5 (16.7) 132.0 (16.8)
Diastolic 78.9 (10) 78.5 (10)
Blood glucose, mean (SD), mg/dl 109.0 (31.8) 109.1 (32.1)
HemoglobinA1c, mean (SD) % 5.9 ( 1.2) 5.9 ( 1.2)
TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG, triglycerides;
Lp(a), lipoprotein(a).
863
Management of Elevated Cholesterol Among Japanese
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
mately 10%.
Although recently published large-scale trials have
demonstrated both the benefits and safety of the HMG CoA
reductase inhibitors in Western populations either known
to have CHD4–6 or without known CHD,
8,9 it is important
that such studies are also undertaken in different popula-
tions such as in Japan. Atherothrombotic disease results
from the interaction between many genes and a variety of
environmental factors including those that influence cho-
lesterol concentrations. Migration studies have shown
changes in the levels of CHD risk factors, including serum
cholesterol, in Japanese who have migrated from their
homeland to Hawaii and mainland United States.
21 In
Japan, the rates and types of cardiovascular endpoints
differ to those in Caucasian populations, reflecting possible
genetic as well as environmental differences.
Not only might the effects of HMG CoA reductase in-
hibitors on CHD endpoints differ in Japan, but the present
study will provide important data on the effects of pravas-
tatin on both non-hemorrhagic and hemorrhagic stroke, the
rates of which are relatively high in Japan, perhaps related
to the high prevalence of hypertension. An overview of
population studies has shown no association between
serum cholesterol concentrations and strokes rates, when
adjusted for known risk factors including age, blood pres-
sure and cardiac disease,
22 although other studies in both
the USA23 and Asian populations,
22,24 which considered
stroke by subtype, have shown a continuous positive rela-
tion between cholesterol concentrations and non-hemor-
rhagic stroke, and a possible increase in the rates of hemor-
rhagic stroke in association with low serum cholesterol
concentrations. The latter may be a more common occur-
rence in those with hypertension,
23 which highlights the
importance of the present study in this cohort in which
more than 40% of the subjects had a history of hyperten-
sion at baseline.
The baseline cholesterol concentrations and other risk
factors of the cohort in the present trial make them suitably
representative for a study of the effects of an HMG CoA
reductase inhibitor in Japanese. The mean baseline total
cholesterol of 242.6 mg/dl lies between those in the
WOSCOPS8and the AFCAPS/TexCAPS,
9and the range is
typical of cholesterol concentrations in Japanese who
develop CHD. Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
frequently have total cholesterol levels greater than
270 mg/dl, and generally would have been excluded from
this study.
As already noted, 40% of the cohort has a history of
hypertension at baseline and approximately 20% have self-
reported diabetes mellitus. Smoking rates of 15–16% are
relatively high despite the large number of female subjects.
Therefore, over half of the subjects have other CHD risk
factors, the pattern of which differs from the baseline char-
acteristics in the previous major primary prevention trials
of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.
8,9
A total of 68% of participants in the study are females,
which reflects the frequent occurrence of elevated choles-
terol concentrations in Japanese women, and is an impor-
tant feature of the present study because in the past they
have either been excluded8or notably underrepresented in
other primary prevention9as well as secondary prevention
studies4–6 of the HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.
The dosage of pravastatin that is being used in this trial,
10–20 mg/day, differs from the higher dose of 40 mg/day
employed in the other major studies.
5,6,8 Approval could not
be obtained to administer a fixed dose (20 mg) of pravas-
tatin, but the dose range being tested reflects usual clinical
prescribing practice in Japan and has been shown to
achieve approximately 20% reduction in total cholesterol
and 25% for LDL-cholesterol reduction in this population,
25
similar to that found in the other studies with a 40 mg daily
dose of the agent.
6,26,27
Finally, the study design allows for commencement of
lipid-lowering therapy with an HMG CoA reductase inhib-
itor during trial follow-up by a treating physician if this is
considered indicated, which overcomes any ethical dilem-
mas in continuing the trial, as has been described previous-
ly.
28
In summary, this is the largest controlled study yet con-
ducted among Orientals in Asia. The difficulties in mount-
ing such a study are reflected by the need for an open rather
than blinded design, because Japanese are uncomfortable
with a placebo-control design. However any bias that might
have been introduced will be minimized because an inde-
pendent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee will over-
see progress in the study, and analyses will be performed
by a group that is independent of the Steering Committee
and investigators. Therefore the study is still able to pro-
vide very important new information on the effects of an
HMG CoA reductase inhibitor in an Oriental population
with a predominance of women.
Acknowledgments
This study is supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labor
and Welfare, Japan and by Sankyo Co Ltd.
The authors are grateful to Drs James Shepherd, Frank Sacks and
Andrew Tonkin for their assistance with the manuscript.
References
1. Blankenhorn H, Azen SP, Crawford D, Nessim SA, Sanmarco ME,
Selzer RH, et al. Effects of colestipol niacin therapy on human
femoral atherosclerosis. Circulation 1991; 83: 438 – 447.
2. Kane JP, Maloloy MJ, Ports TA, Phillips NR, Diehl JC, Havel RJ.
Regression of coronary atherosclerosis during treatment of familial
hypercholesterolemia with combined drug regimens. JAMA 1990;
264: 3007 – 3012.
3. Brown G, Albers JJ, Fisher LD, Schaefer SM, Lin JT, Kaplan C, et
al. Regression of coronary artery disease as a result of intensive
lipid-lowering therapy in men with high levels of apolipoprotein B.
N Engl J Med 1990; 323: 1289 – 1298.
4. Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group. Randomized trial
of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease:
The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Lancet 1994;
344: 1383 – 1389.
5. Sacks FM, Pfeffer MA, Moye LA, Rouleau JL, Rutherford JD, Cole
TG, et al. The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocar-
dial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. N Engl J
Med 1996; 335: 1001 – 1009.
6. The LIPID Study Group. Prevention of cardiovascular events and
death with pravastatin in patients with coronary heart disease and a
broad range of initial cholesterol levels. N Engl J Med 1998; 339:
1349 – 1357.
7. Frick MH, Elo O, Haapa K, Heinonen OP, Heinsalmi P, Helo P, et al.
Helsinki Heart Study: Primary prevention trial with gemfibrozil in
middle-aged men with dyslipidemia: Safety of treatment changes in
risk factors and incidence of coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med
1987; 317: 1237 – 1245.
8. Shepherd J, Cobbe SM, Ford I, Isles CG, Lorimer AR, Macfarlane
PW, et al. Prevention of coronary heart disease with pravastatin in
men with hypercholesterolemia. N Engl J Med 1995; 333: 1301 –
1307.
9. Downs JR, Clearfield M, Weis S, Whitney E, Shapiro DR, Beere PA,
et al. Primary prevention of acute coronary events with lovastatin in
men and women with average cholesterol levels: Results of
AFCAPS/TexCAPS. JAMA 1998; 279: 1615– 1622.
10. World Health Organization. World health statistics annual 1995.
Geneva: World Health Organization, 1996.
864 MEGA Study Group
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
11. Health and Welfare Statistics Association. Heath and Nutrition
Survey of 1999. J Health Welfare Stat 2000; 47: 101 – 103.
12. Matuzaki M, Kita T, Mabuchi H, Matsuzawa Y, Nakaya N, Oikawa
S, et al J-LIT Study Group. Japan Lipid Intervention Trial: Large
scale cohort study of the relationship between serum cholesterol con-
centration and coronary events with low dose simvastatin therapy in
Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia. Circ J 2002; 66: 1087 –
1095.
13. Matsuzawa Y, Kita T, Mabuchi H, Matuzaki M, Nakaya N, Oikawa
S, et al J-LIT Study Group. Sustained reduction of serum cholesterol
in low-dose 6-year simvastatin treatment with minimum side effects
in 51,321 Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients. Circ J 2003; 67:
287 – 295.
14. National Cholesterol Education Program. Report of the Expert Panel
on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol
in Adults (ATP II). Washington, DC: US Department of Health and
Human Services, 1993.
15. DHEW. Lipid Research Clinics Manual of Laboratory Operations.
Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1975; DHEW publi-
cation no. NIH 85 268.
16. Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS. Estimation of the concen-
tration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without the
use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem 1972; 18: 499 –
502.
17. Kodama K, Sasaki H, Shimizu Y. Trend of coronary heart disease
and its relationship to risk factors in a Japanese population: A 26
year follow-up, Hiroshima/Nagasaki Study. Jpn Circ J 1990; 54:
414 – 421.
18. Health and Welfare Statistics Association. J Health Welfare Stat
1992; 39: 400 – 401.
19. Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial Research Group. Multiple
risk factor intervention trial: Risk factor changes and mortality
results. JAMA 1982; 248: 1465 – 1477.
20. Saito Y. Prevention of coronary heart disease and lipid-lowering
therapy in Japan. Eur Heart J Suppl 2000; 2(Suppl D):D49 – D50.
21. Egusa G, Murakami F, Ito C, Matumoto Y, Kado S, Okamura M, et
al. Westernized food habits and concentrations of serum lipids in the
Japanese. Atherosclerosis 1993; 100: 249 – 255.
22. Prospective Studies Collaboration. Cholesterol, diastolic blood pres-
sure, and stroke: 13,000 strokes in 450,000 people in 45 prospective
cohorts. Lancet 1995; 34: 1647 – 1653.
23. Iso H, Jacobs DR Jr, Wentworth D, Neaton JD, Cohen JD. Serum
cholesterol levels and six-year mortality from stroke in 350,977 men
screened for the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. N Engl J
Med 1989; 320: 904 – 910.
24. Eastern Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease Collaborative Research
Group. Blood pressure, cholesterol and stroke in Eastern Asia.
Lancet 1998; 352: 1801 – 1807.
25. Ito H, Ouchi Y, Ohashi Y, Saito Y, Ishikawa T, Nakamura H, et al. A
comparison of low versus standard dose pravastatin therapy for the
prevention of cardiovascular events in the elderly: The pravastatin
anti-atherosclerosis trial in the elderly (PATE). J Atheroscler
Thromb 2001; 8: 33 – 44.
26. West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Group. Effect of
pravastatin and plasma lipids on clinical events in the West of
Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS). Circulation
1998; 97: 1440 – 1445.
27. Sacks FM, Moye LA, Davis BR, Cole TG, Rouleu JL, Nash DT, et al.
Relationship between plasma LDL concentrations during treatment
with pravastatin and recurrent coronary events in the Cholesterol and
Recurrent Events Trial. Circulation 1998; 97: 1446 – 1452.
28. Tonkin AM. Management of the Long-term Intervention with Pra-
vastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) study after th Scandinavian
Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Am J Cardiol 1995; 76: 107C–
112C.
Appendix 1
All endpoints will be adjudicated by the Endpoint Committee and
major endpoints are defined as follows.
1. Definite fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (1 or more of the
following criteria must be met):
(a) Diagnostic ECG at the time of the event.
(b) Ischemic cardiac pain (and /or unexplained acute left ventricular
failure) and diagnostic enzymes.
(c) Ischemic cardiac pain and /or unexplained acute left ventricular
failure with both equivocal enzymes and equivocal ECG.
(d) Diagnostic enzymes and equivocal ECG.
(e) Angiographic evidence of occlusion of a major artery with ap-
propriate ventriculographic wall motion abnormality where previous
angiogram since randomization showed no such abnormality.
(f) Postmortem examination.
2. Angina pectoris (stable or unstable, both of the following criteria
must be met):
(a) Ischemic cardiac pain, relieved by nitrates.
(b) Equivocal ECG.
3. Ischemic stroke (1 of the following conditions must be met):
(a) Rapid onset of focal neurologic deficit lasting at least 24 h or
leading to death plus evidence from neuroimaging (computed tomo-
graphy or magnetic resonance imaging) showing cerebral/cerebellar
infarction or no abnormality, or postmortem examination showing
cerebral and/or cerebellar infarction).
(b) Rapid onset of global neurologic deficit (eg, coma) lasting at
least 24 h or leading to death plus evidence from neuroimaging
showing infarction, or postmortem examination showing infarction.
(c) Focal neurologic deficit (mode of onset uncertain) lasting at least
24 h or leading to death plus evidence from neuroimaging showing
infarction, or postmortem examination showing infarction.
4. Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (1 of the following conditions
must be met):
(a) Rapid onset of focal neurologic deficit lasting at least 24 h or
leading to death, plus neuroimaging or postmortem examination
showing primary intracerebral and/or cerebellar hemorrhage.
(b) Rapid onset of global neurologic deficit (eg, coma) lasting at
least 24 h or leading to death, plus evidence from neuroimaging or
postmortem examination showing primary intracerebral and cerebel-
lar hemorrhage.
(c) Focal neurologic deficit (mode of onset uncertain) lasting at least
24 h or leading to death, plus evidence from neuroimaging or post-
mortem examination showing primary intracerebral and/or cerebellar
hemorrhage.
5. Transient ischemic attack:
(a) Rapid onset of focal neurologic deficit or loss of monocular func-
tion lasting less than 24 h.
(b) Negative neuroimaging.
6. ASO (atherosclerosis obliterans):
(a) At least Fontaine Classification II.
(b) Less than 0.9 (ankle brachial presssure index).
(c) Positive vascular imaging.
Appendix 2
Steering Committee: Nakamura H, Arakawa K, Itakura H, Kitabatake A,
Goto Y, Saito Y, Toyota T, Nakaya N, Nishimoto S, Yamamoto A,
Muranaka M.
Data Reviewing Committee: Nakamura H, Saito Y, Nakaya N,
Yamamoto A, Ishikawa T.
Endpoint Committee: Doba N, Fukuuchi Y.
Data Safety and Monitoring Committee: Kikuchi S, Shibata Y, Shimada
K, Nakamura K, Fujita T, Yokoyama S.
The MEGA study group (*Committee member)
Hokkaido District (142): Abe T, Abiru M*, Adachi T, Aizawa H, Akutsu
M, Aoki K, Aoki S, Ato K, Bekki E, Fujii S, Fujii W, Fujikane T, Fujita
K, Fujita T, Goto S, Haneda T, Hasebe N*, Hasegawa A, Hashimoto A,
Hayasaka T, Hirata H, Hyuuga M, Ibayashi Y, Ide H, Iida Y, Inoue N, Inui
N, Ishida N, Ishii J, Itaya H, Ito H, Ito J, Ito K, Ito Y, Itoh H, Iwashima
Y*, Kakinoki S*, Kamigaki M, Kamoi K, Kato N, Kihara A, Kikuchi K*,
Kimura T, Kitabatake A*, Kobayashi T, Kobayashi T, Kodama T,
Komatsu H, Komori K, Kondo A, Kurihara Y, Kuroda R, Maeda I,
Makiguchi M, Makimura S, Makino T, Maruyama J, Masukawa S,
Matsuo H, Migita N, Miyashita K, Miyazawa K, Mizutani M*, Momose
H, Morimoto H, Morioka M, Morita K, Nagai K, Nagashima K,
Nakagawa N, Nakamura T, Nawate S, Nishiie K, Nishino T, Numazawa
K, Obara A, Ogawa S, Oimatsu H*, Okada H, Okada K, Okada T,
Okamoto K, Ommura H, Omura Y, Onodera Y, Ooiwa H, Ota Y, Otsubo
M, Ozaki T, Saito H, Sakamoto H, Sakuma I*, Sato A, Sato H*, Sato I,
Sato K, Sato M, Sato Y, Sato Y, Sekiguchi M, Senga K, Shibata S,
Shikano Y*, Shimamoto K*, Shimizu H, Shinano H, Shinohara M,
Shogase T*, Shudo H, Sugata T, Suzuki A, Suzuki M, Tabata H, Tagami
S, Taguchi A, Takahashi D, Takahashi K, Takahashi T, Takao K,
Takayanagi N, Takeda H, Takenaka T, Takigami Y*, Takizawa Y, Tani
M, Tobise K, Tomita K, Tsubokura T, Tsujisaki M*, Tsukamoto T,
Uchiyama M, Uchiyama S, Ueda T, Uehara Y, Ura N*, Yamashita H,
Yokota H, Yokota T, Yoshida I, Yoshida K, Yoshimura H, Yoshizawa T.
Tohoku District (208): Abe K*, Abe S, Abe Y, Abukawa T, Aida M,
Ajihara T, Akino Y, Akitsuki T, Akutsu K, Anzai H, Asakura T, Ataka Y,
Baba T*, Eguchi H, Fukui A*, Fukushima M, Funada K, Fushimi E, Goto
Y, Haga E, Hara M, Haraguchi M, Haruyama T, Hashimoto S*, Hayasaka
K, Hayashi M, Hayashi T, Hiramori K*, Hirasawa Y, Hirosaka A*,
Hitomi H, Horino Y, Ikeda K, Ikeda K, Ikeda M, Iriyama S, Ishigaki Y,
865
Management of Elevated Cholesterol Among Japanese
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
Ishii R, Ishikawa K*, Ito N, Ito S*, Ito S*, Ito T, Kagaya Y*, Kaiyama H,
Kakizaki M, Kamata T, Kanazawa A, Kanazawa M, Kanazawa Y, Kanno
M, Kasai Y, Kato K*, Katono E, Kawamura M, Kawashima S, Kibira S*,
Kikuchi H, Kikuchi J, Kikuchi M, Kikuchi T, Kimura H, Kimura H,
Kimura K, Kimura M, Kitada T, Kitagawa M, Kohzuki M, Komatsu N,
Komatsu T, Kosokabe H, Kubo N, Kubota I*, Kubota Y, Kudo K, Kusano
Y, Kushibiki H, Machii K, Maehara K*, Maruyama Y*, Masuda M,
Matsuda G, Matsuhashi A, Matsuoka H, Matsuoka S, Meguro H*,
Meguro Y, Midorikawa S, Mikuniya A, Minami O, Misawa S, Mitsugi M,
Miura H, Miura M*, Miyabe S, Miyazaki Y, Murakoshi H, Muroi S,
Nakahata H, Nakajima J, Nakajima N, Nakanishi T, Nakano J, Nakazato
K, Nakazono M, Namekawa G, Nemoto T, Nishimura S, Nishiyama A,
Nogae I, Nunokawa T, Ogawa A, Ogawa A, Ohnuma H, Ohtomo E,
Ohwada T, Oikawa M, Oikawa S, Oizumi H, Oka Y*, Okano T, Okuguchi
F, Okumura K*, Omata K*, Ono K, Ono T, Ono Y, Oriso S, Osanai T*,
Otsuka K, Owada K, Owada M, Sagara M, Saito K, Saito K, Saito M,
Sakamoto M, Sakauchi Y, Sano R, Sasaki A, Sasaki M*, Sasaki Y, Sato
M, Sato S, Sato S, Sato S, Sato T, Satoh J*, Seki H, Seki K, Seki N,
Sekikawa A, Shiga N, Shiga Y, Shimizu T, Shindo J, Shinzawa H, Shirata
A, Shirato K*, Shishido Y, Suda T*, Suzuki A, Suzuki F, Suzuki H,
Suzuki H, Suzuki N, Suzuki Y, Taira K, Takagi H, Takahashi A,
Takahashi H, Takahashi K, Takahashi K, Takahashi S, Takeda H, Takeda
H, Takeuchi K*, Tamasawa N*, Tamura Y, Taneda Y, Tani M, Tominaga
Y, Tomoike H*, Toyota T*, Tsukahara Y, Tsunoda K, Ube K, Uehara O,
Uemura T, Ueno A, Ueshima K*, Umemura S, Wakamatsu H, Watanabe
R, Watanabe T*, Yabe R, Yabuki T, Yamada K, Yamada Z, Yamaki M,
Yamaki S, Yamamoto H, Yamane K, Yamane K, Yamazaki T,
Yokoshima T, Yoshino M, Yuuki K.
Tokyo District (521): Abe D, Abe M, Abe R, Aikawa J, Akaishi M*,
Akanuma M, Akashi T, Amaki S, Aoyama N, Arakawa K, Araki Y, Araki
Y, Arao M, Asai K, Asano H, Ashino S, Atarashi H, Atarashi K, Awata T,
Ayaori M, Baba A, Ban T, Bujo H, Chiba A, Doba N*, Ebara F, Ebara T,
Ebisuno M, Eida K, Emoto N, Endo K, Endo T, Endo T, Endo Y, Etou K,
Fujimori S, Fujimoto K, Fujioka M, Fujioka T, Fujishiro K, Fujita H,
Fujita M, Fujita S, Fujita T*, Fujita Y, Fukuma N, Fukuma Y, Fukumoto
M, Fukuo Y, Funatsu K, Furutani N, Geshi E, Haketa A, Hamamoto H,
Hamana G, Han A, Handa S, Handa Y, Hara H, Hara H, Hara T, Hara Y,
Harada Y, Hasegawa A, Hashida J, Hashiguchi S, Hashimoto Y, Hata S,
Hatano T, Hayakawa A, Hayama N, Hayama T, Hayashi K, Hayashi M,
Hayashi R, Hayashi T, Hayashi Y, Hibio S, Hida S, Hiejima K, Higano H,
Higashi K, Hikita M, Hiramatsu M, Hiramoto Y, Hirano T*, Hirayama Y,
Hiroi N, Hirose K, Hirose W, Hisada T, Hisamitsu S*, Hiyoshi T, Hiyoshi
Y, Hojoh M, Homori M, Honda H, Hongo K, Honma H, Hosoya J,
Hosoya T, Houjo K, Ibuki C, Ichiba K, Ichiba T, Ichikawa S, Ikeda M,
Ikehata N, Ikejiri A, Ikemoto S, Iketani T, Ikewaki K, Imai T, Imaizumi T,
Imamura M, Imamura Y, Inami S, Inamura T, Ino T, Inoue M, Inoue M,
Inoue S, Inoue T, Isaka T, Ishibashi F, Ishibashi K, Ishibashi T, Ishida M,
Ishii H, Ishii H, Ishikawa M, Ishikawa M, Ishikawa T*, Ishimaru Y,
Ishiyama T, Isoda K, Isogai Y, Itakura H*, Ito H*, Ito H, Ito K, Ito R, Ito
S, Ito S, Ito T, Ito Y, Iwamoto N, Kaga F, Kageyama A, Kageyama S,
Kaiho T, Kaizuka H, Kamada F, Kamata T, Kamba M, Kamon H, Kanae
K, Kanazawa A, Kanazawa M, Kaneko K, Kariya T, Kashiwado M,
Kashiwagi H, Kashiwazaki K, Kashiwazaki K, Kasuya H, Kato H, Kato S,
Kato T, Kato T, Katoh T, Katsumi T, Kawaguchi H, Kawai M, Kawakami
M*, Kawamura M, Kawamura M, Kawana M, Kawano E, Kawano M,
Kawasaki Y, Kawazu S, Kijima F, Kikkawa K, Kikuchi Y, Kinoshita H,
Kinoshita M, Kishida H, Kishida T, Kitajima W, Kiyomi S, Kobayashi M,
Kobayashi N, Kobayashi Y, Kobayashi Y, Kodani E, Kofune T, Kohashi
E, Koide N, Koike K, Koizumi K, Komi R, Komuro I, Kondo S, Kono T,
Koto F, Kubo A, Kuboki M, Kubota M, Kubota T, Kubouchi Y, Kumagai
Y, Kurata H, Kuroda T, Kurokawa M, Kurumatani H, Kusama Y, Kushida
M, Kushiro T*, Kusuhara M, Kuwahara K, Kuwaki K, Maekawa H,
Mamura M, Maruyama J, Maruyama T, Maruyama Y, Maruyama Y,
Masabayashi H, Mashiko S, Masuda A, Masuda M, Masuo M, Matsumoto
M, Matsumura Y, Matsushima M, Matsuura H, Matsuyama K, Matsuzaki
T, Mikami K, Miki S, Mitsubayashi H, Mituhashi R, Miyaji Y, Miyake Y,
Miyamoto S, Miyanaga T*, Miyashita Y, Miyatake Y, Miyazaki S,
Mizobuchi K, Mizokami T, Mizuno K*, Mizuno O, Mori I, Mori K,
Morita H, Morita Y, Moritani S, Morooka S, Murakawa Y, Murano S,
Nagakura H, Nagano S, Naganuma Y, Nagasawa K*, Nagayama M, Naito
H, Nakajima H, Nakajima K, Nakamoto K, Nakamura K*, Nakamura A,
Nakamura H*, Nakamura K, Nakamura N, Nakano H, Nakaya N*,
Nakayama K, Nakayama K, Nakazato H, Naruse K, Naruse M, Nemoto
M, Niitsu Y, Niitsuma T, Nishida T, Nishikawa H, Nishimura G,
Nishimura R, Nishimura Y, Nishio E, Nishiwaki M, Nishiyama A,
Nishiyama J, Nishiyama K, Nishiyama T, Noda H, Nomoto M, Nomura
A, Notoya Y, Nozawa K, Numano F, Numano F, Obata T, Ogata E, Ogata
K, Ogata N, Ogawa K, Ogawa M, Ogawa T, Ogita K, Ogiwara M, Ogura
H, Ohashi Y*, Ohba T, Ohno A, Ohta M, Oi K, Oka M, Okai M, Okazaki
F, Okimoto T, Okuda K, Okuni S, Onikura S, Ono N, Ono S, Ono Y,
Osuga E, Osuzu F*, Ota M, Ota Y, Otsuka M, Otsuka T, Otsuka Y,
Oyama N, Oyama N, Oyama R, Oyama T, Ozawa K, Ozawa S, Rakue H,
Saiki A, Saito F, Saito T, Saito T, Saito T, Saito Y*, Saitoh H, Sakai H,
Sakai S, Sakai T, Sakamoto N, Sakamoto Y*, Sakurai T, Sano H, Sano J,
Sano M, Sano R, Sasaki H, Sasaki T*, Sato H, Sato H, Sato K, Sawada S,
Sawashige K, Segawa K, Segawa Y, Seimiya K, Seino Y, Sekine M,
Sekine N, Sekine S, Senzui M, Shige H, Shimada A, Shimada H, Shimada
H*, Shimada M, Shimai S, Shimizu M, Shimokado K, Shinohara Y,
Shioiri K, Shirabe S, Shirai K*, Shiratori Y, Shoda T, Shuto H, Soeda H,
Someya Y, Sonoda M, Soya N, Suda A, Sugawara H, Sugii Y, Sumi T,
Suzukawa M, Suzuki K, Suzuki K, Suzuki S, Suzuki T, Suzuki T, Tada
N*, Tadera M, Taguchi H, Taguchi M, Tahara K, Taira K, Tajima N*,
Takahashi A, Takahashi K, Takahashi N, Takahashi S, Takahashi Y,
Takamura H, Takanashi H, Takano M, Takano T*, Takao T, Takata Y,
Takayama E, Takayama M, Takazawa K*, Takazawa M, Take C, Takeda
H, Takeda K, Takeda N, Takegawa S, Takei H, Takei I, Takeichi M,
Tamachi H, Tamano Y, Tamura K, Tamura T, Tanaga K, Tanaka A,
Tanaka A, Tanaka H, Tanaka K, Tanaka N, Tanaka S, Tani M, Taniguchi
K, Taniguchi Y, Tazawa K, Terakado S, Teramoto T*, Teraoka K,
Tohyama Y, Tojo K, Tokuyama Y, Tomaru A, Tomichi N, Tomimura M,
Tomiyasu K, Tomono M, Tsai RC, Tsubaki H*, Tsuchiya T, Tsuji M*,
Tsukada Y, Tsuruoka A, Tsuyuguchi M, Uchida Y, Uchiyama T*, Ueda
Y, Uehara Y, Ueki A*, Uemura R, Ueno K, Uetsuka Y, Ui S, Ushiyama
H, Usui M, Utsumi H, Utsunomiya K, Wakata N, Warabi H, Watanabe I,
Yagi H, Yagura M, Yakubo S, Yamada S, Yamaguchi I, Yamaguchi T,
Yamakado M, Yamamoto T, Yamanaka H, Yamane Y, Yamasaki K,
Yamashita M, Yamashita T, Yamashita T, Yamazaki J, Yamazaki K,
Yanagisawa A, Yanagisawa M, Yanagisawa Y, Yano H, Yashima M, Yo
S, Yokota K, Yokota T, Yokoyama J, Yokoyama S, Yomogita S,
Yonemura A, Yoshida F, Yoshida H, Yoshida M, Yoshimatsu Y, Yoshino
G*, Yoshioka K, Yoshitake N, Yoshizawa N, Yoshizawa N, Yumikura S.
Kanagawa District (196): Abe Y, Amitani K, Aonuma K, Arai K, Arata
N, Ashikaga T, Ban K, Beppu H, Chiguchi M, Chikazoe T, Deguchi Y,
Endo K, Endo Y, Fujikura S, Fujino T, Fukushima F, Fusegawa Y, Genka
C, Hachiya H, Haga T, Hagiwara T, Handa M, Hara F, Hara M, Hatori Y,
Hayashi H, Higuchi Y, Hirao K, Hirata N, Hirota H, Homma J, Homma
Y, Hoshiba Y, Igarashi M, Ikeda Y, Inada M, Inada N, Iseki H, Ishigami
M, Itani O, Ito H, Iwahara S, Iwamoto T, Iwata A, Jin Y, Kagyo H,
Kaneko N, Kanemoto N, Kaneshiro M, Kano H, Kanouchi T, Kato J, Kato
K, Kawata T, Kimu J, Kobayashi A, Kobori Y, Koga I, Koike J, Koizumi
M, Korenaga M, Kubota K, Kudo T, Kuji N, Kumagai K, Kuniyoshi T,
Kurihara K, Kuroda M, Kuroki S, Kushida Y, Kushikata Y, Kuwabara M,
Maeba T, Maeda T, Masuda Y, Masumoto T, Matsuda H, Matsumoto T,
Matsuzaki M, Mikawa T, Mineki H, Miwa W, Miyajima E, Miyake F,
Miyamoto K, Miyao H, Miyazaki H, Miyazaki N, Miyazaki S, Moriyama
M, Munakata K, Muraiso T, Murakami S, Murakami T, Muranaka M*,
Murasawa T, Nagaoka S, Nagase H, Nagashima J, Naka Y, Nakajima S,
Nakajima T, Nakamura T, Nakamura T, Nakao K, Nakayama M*,
Nakazawa K, Namiki M, Narita N, Nasu Y, Nimura I, Nishida A,
Nishikawa T, Nobuoka S, Nomura Y, Noto M, O J, Oguma T, Ohmura K,
Oikawa S, Oishi T, Okada H, Okamatsu K, Okubo Y, Omori N, Omura
M, Ori M, Osako K, Osako R, Owada S, Ozawa K, Ryuzaki M, Saito J,
Saito K, Saito S, Saito T, Saito T, Saito Y, Sato A, Sato K, Sato T, Sato T,
Seki H, Seto K, Shibamoto M, Shiina Y, Shoda M, Sogo Y, Suzuki K,
Suzuki Y, Syoji T, Tada H, Taguchi J, Takada I, Takahashi N, Takahashi
Y, Takamura T, Takao Y, Takeyoshi Y, Takigawa O, Tamura S, Tanaka
H, Tanaka J, Tanaka S, Terada H, Tochihara T, Tohyama S, Tohyo S,
Tokui M, Tomoda H, Toyama K, Toyoda K, Tsunashima K, Uchida T,
Uchida T, Umemura S*, Umezawa S, Umezawa T, Watanabe T,
Watanabe T, Yamada Y, Yamagami J, Yamaguchi T, Yamanaka K,
Yamaoka S, Yamauchi Y, Yamazaki K, Yamazaki Y, Yasuda G, Yasuda
T, Yokoyama Y, Yorozuya M, Yoshida M, Yoshimura N, Yoshimura N,
Yoshitake M.
Kitakanto Koshinetsu District (198): Aizawa T, Aizawa Y*, Akutsu H,
Akutsu T, Ando T, Aoyagi K, Arai K, Arakawa M*, Arisaka H, Banba N,
Fujieda K, Fujiwara H, Fujiwara Y, Fukuuchi Y*, Furuno I, Gejyo F*,
Godo M, Goto K, Goto M, Hama H, Handa Y, Hatano T, Hattori N,
Hayashi K, Hayashi T, Hayata H, Hirahara K, Hirayama K, Hirayama S,
Hirono O, Hoshiyama M, Ichikawa S, Iijima H, Inomata A, Inoue K,
Ishihara M, Ishikawa M, Ishikawa M, Ishikawa M, Ishikawa S, Ishikawa
Y, Ito N, Ito Y, Iwamae S, Iwasaki S, Kado S, Kageyama Y, Kakishita H,
Kamei T, Kamiyama K, Kanazawa H, Kaneko T, Kasai G, Kasai K*,
Kase H, Kato T, Katsura Y, Kawada K, Kawai H, Kawai Y, Kawakami Y,
Kawashima S, Kawauchi A, Kayanuma K, Kimura Y, Kobayashi K,
Kobayashi T, Komori S, Komuro F, Koro T, Koshizuka M, Koyama A*,
Koyata H, Kurabayashi T, Kurihara M, Kuroda H, Machida M, Maeda K,
Matsumoto R, Matsumura M, Matsushima T, Matsushita H, Mimura A,
Miyajima S, Miyazaki M, Mizutani M, Mori K, Mori M*, Mori Y, Morita
E, Morohashi H, Motohashi S, Murakami Y, Murata M, Murayama J,
Murayama N, Murayama Y, Nagai A, Nagai T, Nagano T, Nagase S,
866 MEGA Study Group
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
Nagashima T, Nagata K, Nagato T, Nagumo H, Naka M, Nakagawa 0,
Nakagawa M, Nakamaru T, Nakazawa A, Narita I, Nawa T, Nezu M,
Nishi S, Nishino H, Noda Y, Noritake M, Oba S, Oguchi H, Oguchi S,
Okabe A, Okada K, Okada S, Okajima H, Okayasu T, Okoshi T, Okubo
M, Okuda Y, Osada K, Osawa Y, Osonoi T, Owada A, Oya M, Oya S,
Ozaki H, Saeki M, Saito A, Saito M, Saito T, Saito Y, Saji M, Sakata I,
Sasagawa Y, Sato K, Sato K, Sato N, Seguchi H, Shimada K*, Shimano
H, Shimazaki K, Shimizu H, Shimizu Y, Shimotori T, Shionoiri F, Shitara
M, Suda H, Sugamata S, Sugaya T, Sugimoto K, Suzuki H, Suzuki S,
Suzuki Y, Suzuki Y, Takagi T, Takahashi A, Takahashi M, Takahashi S,
Takahashi S, Takamatsu M, Takatama M, Takayama Y, Takei K,
Takenaga K, Takizawa S, Tanabe H, Tanaka K, Tani M, Taya T, Tomita
M, Tomono S, Toyoda T, Tsurushima Y, Tsutsui M, Ueda Y, Ueno M,
Ushiyama K, Watanabe K, Watanabe T, Watanabe Y, Yamada N*,
Yamagata K, Yamane Y, Yamashita N, Yato S, Yazawa Y, Yokoyama A,
Yokoyama M, Yonezawa T, Yoshida J.
Tokai District (339): Abo Y, Adachi M, Akahoshi M, Aoi N, Aoki M,
Arai T, Asai M, Asano K, Azuma H, Baba M, Chimori K, Deguchi K,
Eguchi T, Endo S, Enomoto N, Fujihata T, Fujii E, Fujimoto N, Fujioka
M, Fujita K, Fujiwara H*, Goto N, Haga T, Hanaki Y, Haruta J,
Hasegawa H, Hasegawa H, Hasegawa M, Hasegawa R, Hattori H, Hattori
J, Hattori Y, Hattori Y, Hayakawa K, Hayashi K, Hayashi T, Hayashi T,
Hibi N, Hieda N, Hikita H, Hirai M*, Hiramitsu S, Hirano T*, Hirano Y,
Hirayama H, Hirota H, Hishida H*, Hori Y, Horie K, Hoshino T, Ichida S,
Ichikawa T, Iguchi A*, Iida K, Ikeda K, Ikeda N, Imaeda K, Inaba N,
Inaguma D, Inoue K, Io K, Isaka N*, Ishiguro M, Ishiguro T, Ishihara H,
Ishii J, Ishikura N*, Ishizaki S, Isobe S, Itatsu T, Ito A*, Ito H, Ito H, Ito I,
Ito J, Ito T, Ito Y, Itoh M, Iwasaki Y, Iwasaki Y, Iwase M, Jinno M, Jinno
Y, Kabasawa H, Kakehi H, Kambara K, Kamiya H, Kamiya H, Kamiya
M, Kamiya T, Kaneda N, Kani A, Kato K, Kato N, Kato N, Kato R, Kato
T, Kato T, Kato Y, Kato Y, Katsumata H, Kawabe T, Kawada T,
Kawakami K, Kawase K, Kayama M, Kikuchi S*, Kimura G*, Kimura N,
Kin Y, Kinoshita M, Kobayashi T*, Koda A, Koga M, Koie S, Koike T,
Kojima H, Kojima S*, Komata R, Kondo J, Kondo K, Kondo T, Kongo
M, Kosaki T, Kumon S*, Kuraki T, Kurita T, Kuroda M, Kurokawa H,
Kusakabe A, Kushima M, Kushimoto H, Kuzuya M*, Makino K, Mase
M, Masuda Y, Masuoka H, Matsubara T*, Matsubara T, Matsuki T,
Matsunami T, Matsuoka A, Matsushima Y, Matsuura R, Matsuyama H,
Minagawa T, Minami M, Minami N, Minatoguchi S, Miura Y, Miwa M,
Miyabe H, Miyagi Y, Miyata H, Miyata M, Mizuno G, Mizuno M,
Mizuno R, Mizuno Y, Mizutani K, Mokuno T, Mori H, Mori H, Mori N*,
Mori N, Mori S, Mori T, Mori Y, Mori Y, Morimoto S*, Morita H, Motai
Y, Mukawa H, Murakami K, Murase M, Murata K, Nagaoka N, Nagasaka
A, Nagata M, Naito A, Naito M, Nakae M, Nakahara K, Nakajima S,
Nakamura H*, Nakamura S, Nakamura T, Nakano H, Nakano K*,
Nakano T*, Nakazawa K, Narumi J, Naruse H, Niinomi M*, Nishikawa
H, Nishikawa M, Nishimura H, Nishimura K, Nishino M, Niwa H,
Nogimori T, Nomura M, Nonoda K, Obe T, Ogawa H, Ohashi H*, Ohashi
N, Ohtsuki M, Oishi M, Okada M, Okada M, Okamoto N*, Okamoto R,
Okamoto S, Okamoto Y, Oki T*, Okinaka T, Okuma T, Okumura A,
Okumura K*, Ono J, Ono M*, Onodera T, Osugi K, Osugi S, Oya T,
Oyama K, Ri Y, Saito S, Sakagami M, Sakakibara M, Sakakura K, Sakata
K, Sakuma N*, Samejima Y, Sano H, Sano T*, Sarai M, Sasai K, Sassa
H*, Sawai Y, Shimaji T, Shimaji Y, Shimano S, Shimauchi A, Shimizu A,
Shimizu M, Shin K, Shiraki S, Sone T*, Suga T, Sugata Y*, Sugimoto Y,
Sugimura Y, Sugiura A, Sugiyama S, Sumida Y, Suwaki T, Suzuki A,
Suzuki K, Suzumura Y, Taira A, Takada N, Takada N, Takahama S,
Takahashi R, Takase K, Takashima M, Takatsu H, Takaya T, Takayama
S, Takeda N, Takeda N, Takizawa A, Tameda Y, Taminato T, Tanaka H,
Tanaka S, Tanaka T, Tanaka Y, Tatsuta Y, Terada H, Toba T, Tokita Y,
Tokunaga K, Tomihara H, Tomita M, Tomita M, Tomita Y, Torigoe M,
Torikai K, Tozaki T, Tsuboi H, Tsuchiya A, Tsukamoto T, Tsukiyama K,
Tsuyuki M, Ueda M, Uemura A, Uranishi H, Urano O, Urushida T,
Wakida Y, Watanabe A, Watanabe E, Watanabe G, Watanabe S*,
Watanabe Y, Yamada K, Yamada N, Yamada Y, Yamagata K, Yamamori
I, Yamamoto M, Yamamoto N, Yamamoto T, Yamamoto Y, Yamana T,
Yamashita M, Yamauchi T, Yamazaki A, Yamazaki K, Yamazaki M,
Yano Y, Yasuda K, Yasuda Y*, Yasui T, Yokoi H, Yokoi Y, Yokoyama
N, Yokoyama S*, Yoneyama S, Yoshida J, Yoshida M, Yoshida S,
Yoshikane M, Yoshikane M, Yoshimura H, Yoshioka S.
Kansai District (246): Adachi M, Akiyama H, Akiyama I, Amano K,
Amano M, Anaguchi R, Aoki N*, Arako M, Asada K, Asakuma S, Ashida
K, Awata N*, Chiba H, Chimori Y, Chinzei T*, Ekawa K, Fujimoto M,
Fujimura Y, Fujioka Y*, Fujiwara M, Fukunaga H, Fukuoka Y, Fuseno H,
Hachiya T, Harada H, Harada-Shiba M, Harano A, Harano Y*, Hasegawa
T, Hashimoto K, Hashimoto S, Hashimoto T, Hasuike N, Hayashi H,
Haze K, Hino M, Hirai T, Hirano H, Hiura Y, Horibe I, Hoshida S, Hosoai
H, Hosoi F, Hozumi T, Hyodo E, Ichida K, Ida T, Idogaki A, Iharada Y,
Iida M, Ikeda H, Ikeoka K, Imamura M, Imbe H, Inagaki K, Inoue M,
Ishigami H, Ishihara K, Ishii T, Ishikawa H, Ishitani K, Isotani H,
Iwamoto K, Iwasaka T*, Iwasaki T*, Jiko H, Jikuhara T, Kadoya Y,
Kajikawa K, Kamihata H, Kano Y, Kashiwagi Y, Kasuga M*, Kawamori
D, Kawarabayashi T*, Kazumi T*, Kimura Y, Kishida O, Kishitani Y,
Kitagaki Y, Kitagawa Y, Kitaoka H*, Kobatake T, Kobayashi S,
Kobayashi T, Kobayashi Y, Kodama N, Koh H, Koida S, Kondo T,
Korenori S, Kosaki A, Kosugi K, Kubota H, Kubota J, Kubota S, Kuchii
M, Kumada M, Kurioka K, Maeda E*, Maeda Y, Maehashi N, Majima M,
Majima T, Makimura H, Masai M, Masazumi T, Masuda K, Masuda S,
Masutani M*, Matsubara H*, Matsubara N, Matsuda Y, Matsumoto A,
Matsushima H, Matsuyama T, Matsuzaki K, Minami Y, Mitani K*, Miyai
T, Miyakoshi K, Mori Y, Morimoto S, Morita H, Morita T, Mukohara N,
Murata Y, Nagae K, Nagai T, Nagao M, Naito K*, Naka K*, Naka Y,
Nakagawa T, Nakajima T, Nakamichi J, Nakamichi T, Nakamura S,
Nakamura S, Nakamura T, Nakata A, Naruse H, Nishibe A, Nishibori Y,
Nishimura A, Nishiuchi A, Nishiyama M, Nishizawa Y*, Nogami H,
Nomura M*, Nonaka Y, Nose A, Nozaki H, Nukada T, Obana T, Ofuchi
N, Ogawa W, Ohashi M, Okabayashi Y, Okahara K, Okai K, Okamoto Y,
Oki C, Okigaki M, Okumachi F, Okuyama Y, Omatsu T, Omura M, Ono
M, Ono Y*, Oribe T, Oshima Y, Otsuji S, Otsuka M, Otsuki T, Oyagi M,
Ozawa S, Sakaguchi H, Sakamoto T, Sano H, Sato T, Sekine Y, Seo T,
Shibasaki Y, Shimizu H, Shimmei H, Shiomi M, Shoji T*, Shouzu A,
Sorachi K, Sugano W, Sugitani Y, Sugiura T, Suzuki M, Suzuki N,
Taguchi A, Taguchi H, Takada M, Takahashi H, Takatsu Y*, Takayama
Y, Takehara M, Takemura K, Takeuchi T, Takeuchi Y, Tanaka A, Tanaka
H, Tanaka S*, Tanouchi J, Tarumi N, Tateyama H, Tatsumi N, Tatsuta H,
Terai K, Terasaki J, Torii H, Toyoda N, Tsuda I, Tsuji H*, Tsujii S,
Tsujino K, Tsuneda M, Ueda K, Ueda S, Uehara S, Uemura S, Umeda O,
Ushiroyama T*, Wanaka M, Watanabe M, Watanabe N*, Yagi J, Yamada
S*, Yamaguchi T, Yamamoto A*, Yamamoto A, Yamamoto J*,
Yamamoto Y, Yamano S, Yamazaki Y, Yasutomi N, Yo H, Yoshida O,
Yoshino F, Yuasa F, Yuba M.
Keiji District (97): Akashi K, Asawa Y, Azuma A, Chikayama S, Doi K*,
Fujimoto R, Fujimura H, Fujita H, Fujita J, Fujita K, Fukumoto H,
Furukawa K, Hachimine H, Hasegawa G, Hata T, Hatta T, Hidaka H,
Higashino K, Hirata F, Hirose K, Hyogo M, Ichida T, Ikeda Y, Ikenoue K,
Imai H, Inagake H, Inoue K, Inoue N*, Inoue T, Irino J, Itoh H, Kajinami
T, Kambayashi M, Kambayashi T, Kashiwagi A*, Kayawake S, Kikkawa
R*, Koide M, Kojima H, Kondo M*, Konishi M, Kono S, Kuno M,
Kusudo K, Manabe H, Matsuo A, Matsuoka N, Mitsunami K, Miyao K*,
Miyazaki T, Miyoshi Y, Morimoto M, Nagao M, Nakagawa T, Nakajima
H, Nakamura K, Nakamura K, Nakamura N, Nakanishi M, Nakano R,
Nakaura M, Nishi S*, Nishino K, Nishio Y, Nishiyama A, Ogino K, Oguri
S, Oishi M, Okamoto Y, Okuyama Y, Omoto K, Ono S, Onodera H,
Oshima C, Sato A, Shichiri G, Shigematsu K, Shigeta H, Shimosaka Y,
Sugiyama H, Suzuki E, Tamaki S, Tamura H, Tanaka T, Tanaka T,
Taniguchi Y, Tokura T, Tomioka N, Tomizawa S, Ueda K, Urakaze M,
Watanabe Y, Yamahara Y, Yamaoka O, Yorioka S, Yoshida T*,
Yoshitake T.
Chugoku District (134): Amioka H, Ata K, Ban N, Chishiro T, Egusa G*,
Endo K, Eto M*, Fujii H*, Fujii T*, Fujii T, Fujita T, Hamada Y,
Hasegawa K, Hattori Y, Hayashi K*, Hirata S, Hirokane Y, Hirota S*,
Hori K, Inoue M, Inoue R, Ishikawa S, Ishioka T, Ito M, Iwamoto A,
Iwasaki S, Iwasaki Y, Izumi S, Kahara M*, Kajikawa Y, Kajiwara K,
Kaku K*, Kamisaka K, Kamiya A*, Karino T, Kassai R, Katsurada E,
Kawamura T, Kazusa S, Kimura K, Kiso T, Kobayashi J, Kohno M,
Koide H, Kuga Y, Kurihara N, Kusumoto T, Maesako N, Makiyama M,
Matsubara K, Matsuda M, Matsuki M*, Matsumoto T, Matsuno Y,
Matsushita H, Matsuura Y, Matsuzaki M*, Michihata T, Miki H, Mino Y,
Mitani Y, Mitsuda H, Mitsunobu F, Miyake H, Miyake Y, Mizuno T,
Murakami T, Naito M, Nakahama H, Nakamaru M, Nakamura N,
Nakamura N, Nakanishi S, Nambu S, Nishida S*, Nishimura S, Norimune
S, Ochi N, Oda K, Ohtani H*, Oi S, Oiwa J, Okada S, Okamoto M, Okuno
T, Onoyama S, Ookuchi S, Ota T, Ozaki M, Saito M, Saito M, Sakamoto
E, Sano K, Santo Y, Sasaki T, Sato S, Sato T, Sawada C, Shibata G,
Shigemasa C*, Shigemoto K, Shimozaki Y, Shingu T, Shirota K, Sumii
K, Sumitomo S, Tadehara F, Takao Y, Takata K, Takehisa Y*, Takeuchi
T, Takeuchi Y, Teshima S, Toda H, Tsujiyama S, Tsukamoto Y, Tsutsui
Y, Uchida T, Uehara S, Uehara Y, Umemoto S*, Watanabe M, Yamamoto
H, Yamamoto H, Yamamoto S*, Yamauchi K, Yamawaki Y, Yamazaki J,
Yoneda M, Yoshida A, Yoshida T*, Yoshikawa K, Yoshino F, Yoshitomi
H.
Shikoku District (73): Abe M, Akutsu H, Fujii Y, Fujikawa Y, Fujimoto
H, Fujimoto S, Fujioka H, Fukuda H, Fukuyama T*, Funada J, Habara H,
Hamamoto T, Hara Y, Hasegawa K, Hiasa Y, Higaki J*, Hiwada K*,
Honda T, Ikeda S, Imamura Y, Jo T, Kameoka H, Kato M, Kawamura M,
Kimura M*, Kohara K*, Kojima A, Makino E, Manabe K, Masugata H,
Matsuo H*, Matsuoka N*, Mineoi K, Miyamoto K, Mizushige K*, Mizuta
S, Murao K, Nagai T, Nakagawa H, Nishimoto H, Ochi T, Ohmori K,
Ohtsuka T, Okabayashi K, Okada H, Oki Y, Okubo S, Otani T, Sakamoto
S, Sasada Y, Sato M, Seida M, Senda S, Sengoku A, Shimizu I, Shirakami
867
Management of Elevated Cholesterol Among Japanese
Circulation Journal Vol.68, September 2004
A, Sueda S, Suzuki M, Takada Y, Takagi Y, Takezaki M, Tanaka Y,
Tsuchihashi T, Tsutsui Y, Uchida K, Ueta I*, Wada Y, Watanabe K,
Watanabe K, Yabu Y, Yamamoto M, Yoshimatsu T, Yukiiri K.
Kyushu District (280): Abe K, Abe N, Abe Y, Akaboshi R, Akizuki N,
Amamoto T, Arakawa K*, Araki Y, Arima K, Asato H, Ashizawa N,
Baba M, Biro S, Chijiwa H, Doi A, Doi N, Eguchi S, Fujimura N, Fujino
M, Fujino T, Fujisawa K, Fujishima M, Fujiura Y, Fukiyama K*, Fukuda
H, Fukui J, Fukushima H, Furukawa K, Furusho N, Gondo H, Goto Y,
Gotoh H, Hamada H, Hamaguchi K*, Hara N, Hashimoto K, Hata S,
Hayashi H, Hayashi Y, Hazuku T, Higa T, Higuchi K, Hirano J, Hisano T,
Ide T, Iida K, Ikeda H*, Ikeda S, Ikeda Y*, Imamura M, Imoto N, Inada
C, Inokuchi T, Inou T, Inoue J, Inoue M, Inoue M, Inoue T, Ishibatake H,
Ishii Y, Itaya R, Ito A, Iwami K, Iwasaki Y, Iwata I, Jinbayashi N,
Jinnouchi H, Jinnouchi T*, Kagiyama Y, Kaieda H, Kaji Y*, Kaku H,
Kaku T, Kameko M, Kamido H, Kamitsuchihashi H, Kamogawa T,
Kanaya S, Kariya S*, Katsuda Y, Kawabe K, Kawai H, Kawashima H,
Kawazoe N, Kikuchi Y*, Kitano K, Kodama H, Kodama M, Kogawa K,
Koide Y, Komiya I*, Kondo S, Koreeda N, Kouki T, Kozai T, Kubo S,
Kumeda K, Kurinami S, Kusuda Y, Maki T, Makino N, Maruyama T,
Masaki T, Masutomo K, Matsueda S, Matsui H, Matsumoto M,
Matsumoto Y, Matsunaga T, Matsuo E*, Matsuo K, Matsuo S, Meno H,
Miake S, Midorikawa K*, Mishima T*, Miyagawa A, Miyagi A,
Miyahara Y, Mizukami T, Mizuki K, Mori E, Mori H, Mori T, Mori T,
Mori T, Morimitsu S, Morita E, Motomura K, Munekiyo M, Muratani H,
Nagafuchi S*, Nagamatsu A, Nagamatsu N, Nagata O, Naito T, Nakaike
R, Nakamura K, Nakamura T, Nakano H, Nakano H, Nakao R, Nakao T,
Nakao Y, Nakata T, Nashiro K, Natori S, Nawata H*, Nishi Y, Nishida M,
Nishihara S, Nishimoto S*, Nishiyama K, Nishiyama M, Nishiyama T,
Noda K, Noda Y, Nohara M*, Noma M, Nomoto K, Notomi A*, Nozaki
M, Numaguchi K, Obata H, Ochi T, Ogata A, Ogata H, Ogawa K, Ohnaka
K, Ohya Y, Oike M, Okamatsu S, Okamoto S, Oketani K, Okita K, Okita
T, Okubo T, Okura H, Omori K, Ono J, Origuchi H, Ota Y, Oyama J,
Ozeki S, Sadamoto H, Sagara T, Saito N, Sakata T*, Sako Y, Sakuragawa
K, Sanada J, Sasaki J, Sasaki K, Sasaki M, Senju N, Seto S, Setoguchi Y,
Setoyama S*, Shibata Y*, Shibuya H, Shida M, Shigyo M, Shimabukuro
M, Shimizu S, Shinagawa T, Shirahashi K, Shiraishi R, Shiraishi T,
Shiromoto S, Shirono E, Shirouzu A, Sumii T, Suzuki S, Syojima T,
Tabata K, Tabata S, Tada H, Tagami M, Tagawa T, Taguchi T, Taira M,
Tajimi T, Takahara A, Takahara K, Takahara M, Takahashi A, Takano H,
Takayama Y, Takazoe K, Takeda H, Takigami S, Takuma S, Tanaka K,
Tanaka N*, Tanaka S, Tanaka Y, Tashima N, Tashiro E, Tashiro H,
Tatsukawa M, Tawada M*, Tei C*, Togami S, Tokunaga N, Toma S,
Tozawa M, Tsuji T, Tsukasa M, Tsuruta K, Uchida Y, Uchiyama S, Ueda
K*, Uenomachi H, Urabe Y, Usuku N, Wakasugi H, Yakushiji Y,
Yamada Y, Yamaguchi K*, Yamaguchi R, Yamaguchi T, Yamaguchi T,
Yamamoto H, Yamamoto H, Yamamoto K, Yamashita A, Yamazato M,
Yanagawa M, Yano K*, Yano M, Yara T, Yasutake T, Yokokawa Y,
Yokoyama T, Yoshida M, Yoshida T, Yoshida T, Yoshimatsu H*,
Yoshimura H, Yoshimura R.
... This indicates the possibility that type IIb has both VLDL and LDL elevation and also a qualitative change in LDL into being more atherogenic, which could cause statins to be less effective in this phenotype than in the type IIa phenotype. In the primary prevention MEGA Study with low-dose pravastatin in Japanese patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia without CVD [8][9][10][11][12][13], total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) were reduced by 12% and 18%, respectively ; HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased by 5.8%; and, importantly, coronary heart disease (CHD) was significantly reduced by 33%. In the present post hoc analysis, all the MEGA Study patients were classified according to their dyslipidemia phenotype and the incidence of CHD, stroke, CVD, and total mortality, and also the effectiveness of pravastatin on these major endpoints were assessed. ...
... All 7832 MEGA Study patients were included in the present post hoc analysis. The details of the MEGA Study have been previously reported [8,9]. Briefly, this prospective randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint study was conducted between 1994 and 2004 in Japanese men and postmenopausal women aged 40–70 years with a moderate level of hypercholesterolemia (TC concentration: 220–270 mg/dL) without a history of CHD or cerebrovascular disease . ...
Article
Background: The beneficial effect of statins for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention has been well established. However, the effectiveness among different phenotypes of dyslipidemia has not been confirmed. Objective: We evaluated the effect of pravastatin on the incidence of CVD in relation to the phenotype of dyslipidemia. Methods: The MEGA Study evaluated the effect of low-dose pravastatin on primary prevention of CVD in 7832 Japanese patients, who were randomized to diet alone or diet plus pravastatin and followed for more than 5 years. These patients were classified into phenotype IIa (n=5589) and IIb (n=2041) based on the electrophoretic pattern for this post hoc analysis. Results: In the diet group there was no significant difference in the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, CVD, and total mortality between the two phenotypes. Phenotype IIb patients, compared to phenotype IIa, had lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and a significantly higher incidence of CVD in relation to a low HDL-C level (<47.5mg/dL; p=0.02). Furthermore, pravastatin decreased the relative risk for each major endpoint in both type IIa and type IIb dyslipidemia. Significant risk reductions were observed for CHD by 38% (p=0.04) and CVD by 31% (p=0.02) in type IIa dyslipidemia but not in phenotype IIb. Conclusion: Pravastatin therapy provided significant risk reductions for CHD and CVD in patients with phenotype IIa dyslipidemia, but not in those with phenotype IIb dyslipidemia.
... The New England Journal of Medicine, in 1993(GUSTO Investigators, 1993. The Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese (MEGA) analyzed 8009 patients in 924 hospitals in Japan and published the results in an article, which consisted of 2459 authors (Nakamura et al., 2004). In physics, the scientists and engineers affiliated with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) have been added to the standard author list of all the articles published by CDF, in alphabetical order, since 1998. ...
Article
Full-text available
Multi-authoring has been gaining popularity since the foundation of academic publishers. Today we observe a global trend in favor of multi-authoring. On the other hand, in certain domains, such as CERN collaborations in physics, multi-authoring has a different connotation than other domains. The number of co-authors may be above 5000, an all-time record in the history of academic publishing. CERN collaborations have been accomplishing one of the most significant achievements in physics, as well; therefore, the collaborations produce highly cited articles. Highly cited, multi-authored articles have influenced university rankings in the past decade, due to the distribution of the citations per affiliated institution. In the present study, we analyze the influence of multi-authored articles on ranking methodologies. Our findings reveal that the presence of multi-authored CERN articles have a significant impact on all bibliometric ranking indicators, and consequently on the ranking positions of the institutions worldwide.
Article
Full-text available
Aim: Most epidemiological and clinical studies calculated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by Friedewald's formula which cannot be used in the postprandial samples. Although the homogeneous assays with poor analytical performance were withdrawn from the market, it remained unclear whether the currently available reagents for LDL-C and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) are as accurate for postprandial samples as for fasting samples. Methods: Fresh blood samples were collected from 59 non-diseased and 109 diseased subjects. Postprandial samples constituted 72.9% and 42.9% of these samples. LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations were measured using the homogeneous assays of four manufacturers (Denka-Seiken, Wako, Kyowa Medex, and Sekisui Medical). Simultaneously, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations were determined using the reference measurement procedures (RMPs) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Total errors were calculated using a routine method (TEcom) and via error component analysis (TEECA). Results: All homogeneous assays for LDL-C and HDL-C met the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) requirements in terms of coefficient of variation, and TEcom in both non-diseased and diseased subjects. LDL-C and HDL-C values measured by the homogeneous assays were in good agreement with those measured by the RMPs in both fasting and postprandial samples. The TEcom and TEECA values of the postprandial samples were similar to those of fasting samples, although the TEECA values were up to 4.4-fold greater than the TEcom values. Conclusions: In both non-diseased and diseased subjects, the homogeneous assays for LDL-C and HDL-C of four manufacturers are as accurate for postprandial samples as for fasting samples.
Article
Aims/Introduction: To evaluate the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level and cardiovascular disease in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and to evaluate the effect of pravastatin on risk reduction in a post‐hoc analysis of the large‐scale Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the primary prevention Group of Adult Japanese (MEGA) Study. Materials and Methods: A total of 7832 patients were randomized to diet alone or diet plus low‐dose pravastatin (10–20 mg/day, average 8.3 mg during follow‐up periods) and followed for >5 years. In this analysis, the relationship between FPG and risk of cardiovascular disease events over 5 years were studied in 6673 patients with recorded baseline FPG levels by using the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model with the restricted quadratic spline based on three knots for FPG quartiles. Results: The spline curve showed an obvious sharp increased risk from a FPG of ≥100 mg/dL. The spline curve in the diet plus pravastatin group was consistently lower than in the diet group, regardless of the FPG level. Conclusions: The risk of cardiovascular disease appears to increase when FPG is ≥100 mg/dL, with a sharp increased risk found above this level in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Statin treatment seems to be beneficial to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in this population. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT00211705). (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2011.00121.x, 2011)
Article
Owing to the progressive aging of the population, and the fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among the elderly, the prevention of CVD in the elderly is becoming increasingly important. Although there is no doubt that statin treatment should be used for reducing CVD risk in the elderly in secondary prevention in the same way as in younger individuals, the evidence that such treatment really prolongs life in elderly subjects in primary prevention is still not so clear. However, it seems that it does reduce CVD morbidity in elderly individuals. Because of limited evidence regarding the benefit of such therapy, particularly in very old subjects (older than 80-85 years), the decision whether to treat or not treat an elderly individual with statins in primary prevention should be based on good clinical judgment and considering the individual subject's situation regarding comorbidities, polypharmacy, and possible adverse effects.
Article
Full-text available
The Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese (MEGA) Study demonstrated the beneficial effect of low-dose pravastatin treatment (10-20 mg/d) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Japanese patients with mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemia. However, it is not known whether mild lipid modification is effective even for patients at high risk. In this study, we evaluated low-dose pravastatin treatment in patients with metabolic syndrome in the MEGA Study. Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) was defined according to the modified US National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. There were 72 coronary heart disease (CHD) events and 130 CVD events in 2636 patients with MetSyn, and 70 CHD events and 125 CVD events in 5196 patients without MetSyn (hazard ratios 1.85 and 1.90, respectively). No significant risk reduction in CHD was found in the diet plus pravastatin group compared with the diet group patients with MetSyn (hazard ratio .78, P = .29). On the other hand, there was a significant 36% CVD risk reduction (P = .01) in the diet plus pravastatin group compared with the diet group patients with MetSyn, with a small number needed to treat (45). These results indicate that low-dose pravastatin provides a substantial beneficial effect for the prevention of CVD in Japanese patients with MetSyn without known CVD, a population at proportionally high risk in primary prevention.
Article
A recent large, randomized trial suggested that statins may increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Accordingly, we systematically reviewed the association of statins with intracerebral hemorrhage in randomized and observational data. We screened 17 electronic bibliographic databases to identify eligible studies and consulted with experts in the field. We used DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models to compute summary risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Randomized trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies were analyzed separately. Only adjusted risk estimates were used for pooling observational data. We included published and unpublished data from 23 randomized trials and 19 observational studies. The complete data set comprised 248 391 patients and 14 784 intracerebral hemorrhages. Statins were not associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in randomized trials (risk ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.41), cohort studies (risk ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.10), or case-control studies (risk ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.88). Substantial statistical heterogeneity was evident for the case-control studies (I(2)=66%, P=0.01), but not for the cohort studies (I(2)=0%, P=0.48) or randomized trials (I(2)=30%, P=0.09). Sensitivity analyses by study design features, patient characteristics, or magnitude of cholesterol lowering did not materially alter the results. We found no evidence that statins were associated with intracerebral hemorrhage; if such a risk is present, its absolute magnitude is likely to be small and outweighed by the other cardiovascular benefits of these drugs.
Article
Dyslipidaemia is often associated with hypertension, and many clinical trials have shown that lipid-lowering therapy and strict blood pressure (BP) control are important for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few reports describe the effect of statins on CVD occurrence in relation to long-term BP control. In the present analysis, we investigated the effects of baseline BP and follow-up BP control on the occurrence of CVD in patients enrolled in the MEGA Study. We investigated whether BP values provide more accurate prediction of the occurrence of CVD, including cerebrovascular disease/transischemic attack (CVA/TIA), and the effect of pravastatin on CVA/TIA. The risk for CVA/TIA and other CVD increased significantly (P≤0.001) as the severity of hypertension increased. In contrast, pravastatin reduced the onset of CVA/TIA, regardless of the BP controlled. The mean BP was a more accurate predictor of CVD than a one-time BP value. In patients with mild-to-moderate dyslipidaemia, elevated BP increases the risk for CVA/TIA and other CVD, and rigorous BP control was important for preventing CVD, in particular CVA/TIA. The 12-month mean BP is useful to avoid attenuation to determine the association between CVD and BP. Pravastatin prevented CVA/TIA, regardless of BP controlled.
Article
Reducing high blood cholesterol, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in people with and without a past history of coronary heart disease (CHD) is an important goal of pharmacotherapy. Statins are the first-choice agents. Previous reviews of the effects of statins have highlighted their benefits in people with coronary artery disease. The case for primary prevention, however, is less clear. To assess the effects, both harms and benefits, of statins in people with no history of CVD. To avoid duplication of effort, we checked reference lists of previous systematic reviews. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 1, 2007), MEDLINE (2001 to March 2007) and EMBASE (2003 to March 2007). There were no language restrictions. Randomised controlled trials of statins with minimum duration of one year and follow-up of six months, in adults with no restrictions on their total low density lipoprotein (LDL) or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, and where 10% or less had a history of CVD, were included. Two authors independently selected studies for inclusion and extracted data. Outcomes included all cause mortality, fatal and non-fatal CHD, CVD and stroke events, combined endpoints (fatal and non-fatal CHD, CVD and stroke events), change in blood total cholesterol concentration, revascularisation, adverse events, quality of life and costs. Relative risk (RR) was calculated for dichotomous data, and for continuous data pooled weighted mean differences (with 95% confidence intervals) were calculated. Fourteen randomised control trials (16 trial arms; 34,272 participants) were included. Eleven trials recruited patients with specific conditions (raised lipids, diabetes, hypertension, microalbuminuria). All-cause mortality was reduced by statins (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.95) as was combined fatal and non-fatal CVD endpoints (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.79). Benefits were also seen in the reduction of revascularisation rates (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.83). Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were reduced in all trials but there was evidence of heterogeneity of effects. There was no clear evidence of any significant harm caused by statin prescription or of effects on patient quality of life. Although reductions in all-cause mortality, composite endpoints and revascularisations were found with no excess of adverse events, there was evidence of selective reporting of outcomes, failure to report adverse events and inclusion of people with cardiovascular disease. Only limited evidence showed that primary prevention with statins may be cost effective and improve patient quality of life. Caution should be taken in prescribing statins for primary prevention among people at low cardiovascular risk.
Article
Lipid-lowering therapy in individuals with high risk of cardiovascular disease reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. However, few studies have assessed the benefits of cholesterol lowering for primary prevention of coronary heart disease in hypertensive patients with mild dyslipidemia or without conventional dyslipidemia. The large, randomized Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese Study showed a 33% reduction in coronary heart disease incidence with pravastatin as the primary prevention in Japanese patients. We conducted an exploratory analysis of the effect of diet plus pravastatin therapy on the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (coronary heart disease, coronary heart disease plus cerebral infarction, and cardiovascular disease) in the 3277 patients with hypertension during the 5-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in mean baseline total cholesterol, blood pressure levels, or variation in blood pressure during the 5-year period between the diet (n=1664) and diet plus pravastatin (n=1613) groups. In the diet plus pravastatin group, the relative risk of coronary heart disease plus cerebral infarction was reduced by 35% (hazard ratio: 0.65; CI: 0.46 to 0.93; P=0.02), cerebral infarction by 46% (hazard ratio: 0.54; CI: 0.29 to 0.98; P=0.04), and cardiovascular disease by 33% (hazard ratio: 0.67; CI: 0.49 to 0.91; P=0.01). In patients without a history of cardiovascular disease who have hypertension and mildly elevated cholesterol, pravastatin was effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease, particularly cerebral infarction. Hence, in patients with hypertension with mildly elevated cholesterol levels, treatment with a statin is advisable to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
Article
Full-text available
Context.— Although cholesterol-reducing treatment has been shown to reduce fatal and nonfatal coronary disease in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), it is unknown whether benefit from the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients without CHD extends to individuals with average serum cholesterol levels, women, and older persons.Objective.— To compare lovastatin with placebo for prevention of the first acute major coronary event in men and women without clinically evident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with average total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C levels and below-average high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.Design.— A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Setting.— Outpatient clinics in Texas.Participants.— A total of 5608 men and 997 women with average TC and LDL-C and below-average HDL-C (as characterized by lipid percentiles for an age- and sex-matched cohort without cardiovascular disease from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES] III). Mean (SD) TC level was 5.71 (0.54) mmol/L (221 [21] mg/dL) (51st percentile), mean (SD) LDL-C level was 3.89 (0.43) mmol/L (150 [17] mg/dL) (60th percentile), mean (SD) HDL-C level was 0.94 (0.14) mmol/L (36 [5] mg/dL) for men and 1.03 (0.14) mmol/L (40 [5] mg/dL) for women (25th and 16th percentiles, respectively), and median (SD) triglyceride levels were 1.78 (0.86) mmol/L (158 [76] mg/dL) (63rd percentile).Intervention.— Lovastatin (20-40 mg daily) or placebo in addition to a low–saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet.Main Outcome Measures.— First acute major coronary event defined as fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or sudden cardiac death.Results.— After an average follow-up of 5.2 years, lovastatin reduced the incidence of first acute major coronary events (183 vs 116 first events; relative risk [RR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-0.79; P<.001), myocardial infarction (95 vs 57 myocardial infarctions; RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43-0.83; P=.002), unstable angina (87 vs 60 first unstable angina events; RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.95; P=.02), coronary revascularization procedures (157 vs 106 procedures; RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.85; P=.001), coronary events (215 vs 163 coronary events; RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.92; P=.006), and cardiovascular events (255 vs 194 cardiovascular events; RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.91; P=.003). Lovastatin (20-40 mg daily) reduced LDL-C by 25% to 2.96 mmol/L (115 mg/dL) and increased HDL-C by 6% to 1.02 mmol/L (39 mg/dL). There were no clinically relevant differences in safety parameters between treatment groups.Conclusions.— Lovastatin reduces the risk for the first acute major coronary event in men and women with average TC and LDL-C levels and below-average HDL-C levels. These findings support the inclusion of HDL-C in risk-factor assessment, confirm the benefit of LDL-C reduction to a target goal, and suggest the need for reassessment of the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines regarding pharmacological intervention. Figures in this Article EPIDEMIOLOGICAL observations have demonstrated consistently a strong positive, continuous, independent, graded relation between plasma total cholesterol (TC) and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). This relation covers a wide range of cholesterol concentrations, including those considered normal or mildly elevated.1- 3 In the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial follow-up of screened men, 69% of deaths from CHD in the first 6 years of follow-up occurred in subjects with TC values between 4.71 and 6.83 mmol/L (182-264 mg/dL).4 In the first 16 years of the Framingham Heart Study, 40% of participants who developed a myocardial infarction had a TC level between 5.17 and 6.47 mmol/L (200-250 mg/dL).5 Large end point studies have demonstrated conclusively that effective cholesterol-lowering treatment can substantially reduce myocardial infarction and other coronary events. In the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor simvastatin reduced total mortality in patients with CHD by 30% because of a 42% reduction in deaths from CHD.6 Subsequently, pravastatin was shown to reduce fatal and nonfatal coronary events in patients with7 and without8 CHD. However, it is unknown whether benefit from reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients without CHD (primary prevention) extends to individuals with average serum cholesterol levels, women, and older persons. The Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (AFCAPS/TexCAPS) targeted a cohort of generally healthy middle-aged and older men and women with average TC and LDL-C levels and with below-average high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. The primary end point analysis was the incidence of first acute major coronary events, defined as fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or sudden cardiac death. The inclusion of unstable angina was a unique feature of this study, and its inclusion as a primary end point reflects the increasing frequency of unstable angina as the initial presentation of CHD in the United States.9
Article
The 2-year therapy effect on femoral atherosclerosis was evaluated in the Cholesterol Lowering Atherosclerosis Study (CLAS), a randomized, placebo-plus-diet-controlled angiographic trial of colestipol-niacin therapy plus diet in men with previous coronary bypass surgery. Different diet compositions were prescribed to enhance the differential in blood cholesterol responses between the two groups. The annual rate of change in computer-estimated atherosclerosis (CEA), a measure of lumen abnormality, was evaluated between treatment groups. A significant per-segment therapy effect was found in segments with moderately severe atherosclerosis (p less than 0.04) and in proximal segments (p less than 0.02). When segmental CEA measures were combined into a per-patient score using an adaptation of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute scoring procedure, a significant therapy effect was observed (p less than 0.02). Total variance of the annual change rate in CEA was as predicted from pilot studies, but measurement variation was larger. The therapy effect observed in femoral arteries, although significant, was less marked than the strong and consistent benefit previously reported for both native coronary arteries and aortocoronary bypass grafts.
Article
The effect of intensive lipid-lowering therapy on coronary atherosclerosis among men at high risk for cardiovascular events was assessed by quantitative arteriography. Of 146 men no more than 62 years of age who had apolipoprotein B levels greater than or equal to 125 mg per deciliter, documented coronary artery disease, and a family history of vascular disease, 120 completed the 2 1/2-year double-blind study, which included arteriography at base line and after treatment. Patients were given dietary counseling and were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: lovastatin (20 mg twice a day) and colestipol (10 g three times a day); niacin (1 g four times a day) and colestipol (10 g three times a day); or conventional therapy with placebo (or colestipol if the low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol level was elevated). The levels of LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol changed only slightly in the conventional-therapy group (mean changes, -7 and +5 percent, respectively), but more substantially among patients treated with lovastatin and colestipol (-46 and +15 percent) or niacin and colestipol (-32 and +43 percent). In the conventional-therapy group, 46 percent of the patients had definite lesion progression (and no regression) in at least one of nine proximal coronary segments; regression was the only change in 11 percent. By comparison, progression (as the only change) was less frequent among patients who received lovastatin and colestipol (21 percent) and those who received niacin and colestipol (25 percent), and regression was more frequent (lovastatin and colestipol, 32 percent; niacin and colestipol, 39 percent; P less than 0.005). Multivariate analysis indicated that a reduction in the level of apolipoprotein B (or LDL cholesterol) and in systolic blood pressure, and an increase in HDL cholesterol correlated independently with regression of coronary lesions. Clinical events (death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization for worsening symptoms) occurred in 10 of 52 patients assigned to conventional therapy, as compared with 3 of 46 assigned to receive lovastatin and colestipol and 2 of 48 assigned to receive niacin and colestipol (relative risk of an event during intensive treatment, 0.27; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.77). In men with coronary artery disease who were at high risk for cardiovascular events, intensive lipid-lowering therapy reduced the frequency of progression of coronary lesions, increased the frequency of regression, and reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events.
Article
We conducted a randomized, controlled trial in 72 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia to test whether reducing plasma low-density lipoprotein levels by diet and combined drug regimens can induce regression of coronary lesions. Four hundred fifty-seven lesions were measured before and after a 26-month interval by computer-based quantitative angiography. The primary outcome variable was within-patient mean change in percent area stenosis. Mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased from 7.32 +/- 1.5 to 4.45 +/- 1.6 mmol/L. The mean change in percent area stenosis among controls was +0.80, indicating progression, while the mean change for the treatment group was -1.53, indicating regression (P = .039 by two-tailed t test for the difference between groups). Regression among women, analyzed separately, was also significant. The change in percent area stenosis was correlated with low-density lipoprotein levels on trial. We conclude that reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels can induce regression of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. The anticipation of benefit from treatment applies to women and men alike.
Article
In a randomized, double-blind five-year trial, we tested the efficacy of simultaneously elevating serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and lowering levels of non-HDL cholesterol with gemfibrozil in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease in 4081 asymptomatic middle-aged men (40 to 55 years of age) with primary dyslipidemia (non-HDL cholesterol greater than or equal to 200 mg per deciliter [5.2 mmol per liter] in two consecutive pretreatment measurements). One group (2051 men) received 600 mg of gemfibrozil twice daily, and the other (2030 men) received placebo. Gemfibrozil caused a marked increase in HDL cholesterol and persistent reductions in serum levels of total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. There were minimal changes in serum lipid levels in the placebo group. The cumulative rate of cardiac end points at five years was 27.3 per 1,000 in the gemfibrozil group and 41.4 per 1,000 in the placebo group--a reduction of 34.0 percent in the incidence of coronary heart disease (95 percent confidence interval, 8.2 to 52.6; P less than 0.02; two-tailed test). The decline in incidence in the gemfibrozil group became evident in the second year and continued throughout the study. There was no difference between the groups in the total death rate, nor did the treatment influence the cancer rates. The results are in accord with two previous trials with different pharmacologic agents and indicate that modification of lipoprotein levels with gemfibrozil reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease in men with dyslipidemia.
Article
Background. Lowering the blood cholesterol level may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. This double-blind study was designed to determine whether the administration of pravastatin to men with hypercholesterolemia and no history of myocardial infarction reduced the combined incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease. Methods. We randomly assigned 6595 men, 45 to 64 years of age, with a mean (+/- SD) plasma cholesterol level of 272 +/- 23 mg per deciliter (7.0 +/- 0.6 mmol per liter) to receive pravastatin (40 mg each evening) or placebo. The average follow-up period was 4.9 years. Medical records, electrocardiographic recordings, and the national death registry were used to determine the clinical end points. Results. Pravastatin lowered plasma cholesterol levels by 20 percent and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 26 percent, whereas there was no change with placebo. There were 248 definite coronary events (specified as nonfatal myocardial infarction or death from coronary heart disease) in the placebo group, and 174 in the pravastatin group (relative reduction in risk with pravastatin, 31 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 17 to 43 percent; P<0.001). There were similar reductions in the risk of definite nonfatal myocardial infarctions (31 percent reduction, P<0.001), death from coronary heart disease (definite cases alone: 28 percent reduction, P = 0.13; definite plus suspected cases: 33 percent reduction, P = 0.042), and death from all cardiovascular causes (32 percent reduction, P = 0.033). There was no excess of deaths from noncardiovascular causes in the pravastatin group. We observed a 22 percent reduction in the risk of death from any cause in the pravastatin group (95 percent confidence interval, 0 to 40 percent; P=0.051). Conclusions. Treatment with pravastatin significantly reduced the incidence of myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes without adversely affecting the risk of death from noncardiovascular causes in men with moderate hypercholesterolemia and no history of myocardial infarction.
Randomized trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S)
Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group. Randomized trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Lancet 1994; 344: 1383 -1389.