The VA HDL Intervention Trial (HIT): Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Men With Low HDL-Cholesterol and Desirable LDL-Cholesterol

Summary

This was a double-blind randomized trial comparing 1200 mg per day of gemfibrozil with placebo in 2531 men with coronary heart disease, an HDL-C of 40mg/dl or less, an LDL-C of 140 mg/dl or less, and triglycerides of 300mg/dl or less. The primary outcome was nonfatal myocardial infarction(MI) or death from coronary causes. The median follow-up was 5.1 years. There was a risk reduction of 22% in the primary outcome (p=.0006) and 24% risk reduction in the combined endpoint of stroke, MI, and CHD death. The rate of events was reduced by raising HDL-C and lowering triglycerides without lowering LDL-C (N Engl J Med 1999;341:410-418).

Timeline

Start

1991-06

Primary completion

1998-09

Completion

1999-08

Publications

• Results Brousseau ME, O'Connor JJ Jr, Ordovas JM, Collins D, Otvos JD, Massov T, McNamara JR, Rubins HB, Robins SJ, Schaefer EJ. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqI B2B2 genotype is associated with higher HDL cholesterol levels and lower risk of coronary heart disease end points in men with HDL deficiency: Veterans Affairs HDL Cholesterol Intervention Trial. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002 Jul 1;22(7):1148-54. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.0000024566.57589.2e.
• Results Rubins HB, Robins SJ, Collins D, Fye CL, Anderson JW, Elam MB, Faas FH, Linares E, Schaefer EJ, Schectman G, Wilt TJ, Wittes J. Gemfibrozil for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in men with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Veterans Affairs High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Intervention Trial Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1999 Aug 5;341(6):410-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199908053410604.
• Results Rubins HB, Robins SJ, Collins D, Nelson DB, Elam MB, Schaefer EJ, Faas FH, Anderson JW. Diabetes, plasma insulin, and cardiovascular disease: subgroup analysis from the Department of Veterans Affairs high-density lipoprotein intervention trial (VA-HIT). Arch Intern Med. 2002 Dec 9-23;162(22):2597-604. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.22.2597.
• Results Papademetriou V, Narayan P, Rubins H, Collins D, Robins S. Influence of risk factors on peripheral and cerebrovascular disease in men with coronary artery disease, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and desirable low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. HIT Investigators. Department of Veterans Affairs HDL Intervention Trial. Am Heart J. 1998 Oct;136(4 Pt 1):734-40. doi: 10.1016/s0002-8703(98)70023-7.
• Results Rubins HB, Robins SJ, Collins D. The Veterans Affairs High-Density Lipoprotein Intervention Trial: baseline characteristics of normocholesterolemic men with coronary artery disease and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program High-Density Lipoprotein Intervention Trial Study Group. Am J Cardiol. 1996 Sep 1;78(5):572-5. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(96)00369-4.

Drugs

Indications