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“Rosalia” Effectiveness and safety of combined antihypertensive and cholesterolreducing therapy (lisinopril-amlodipine and rosuvastatin) in high and very high risk patient populations Introduction Cardiovascular diseases are at the top of the mortality statistics both worldwide and in Hungary. The WHO forecasts that over the next 10-year period cardiovascular diseases will continue to feature as the leading cause of death (1). Following a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, modern therapy has the aim and task of slowing the progression of the atherosclerosis and preventing the occurrence of repeated events. Secondary prevention through medication rests on four main pillars: beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, lipid-reducing statins and thrombocyte aggregation inhibitors. It has been known since 2002 that in secondary prevention the prophylactic drugs, independently of each other, reduce the relative risk of cardiovascular events by 25-30% (2). It was these factors that first suggested the rationale for a polypill strategy. The studies of past years have aimed to define the target values of the clinical parameters (blood pressure, blood lipids, heart frequency, efficacious thrombocyte aggregation inhibition). In order to achieve the favourable mortality data, when applying any of the four preventive products, the major clinical trials highlight in particular the necessity of titration to reach the target values of the tested parameters (IDEAL, TNT, PROVE-IT TIMI, ACCOMPLISH, HOT, CAPRIE, COMMIT, MacAlister, CIBIS-ELD, BEAUTIFUL, SHIFT) (3-6). For hypertensive patients blood pressure can be normalised using monotherapy in a lower proportion of cases (approx. 30%), while for the vast majority of patients combination antihypertensive therapy is needed. For patients with a high cardiovascular risk, based on the data of the HOT, UKPDS, RENAAL study, to achieve the target blood pressure the combined use of an average of 2 or more drugs was necessary. With the use of two active ingredients that complement each other’s mechanism of effect, the antihypertensive effects are compounded, or a potentiating synergy can arise, permitting successful titration of the blood pressure to reach the target value. With regard to “treatment to target”, we have to point out that the previous target values, valid in 2011, have changed considerably on the basis of the 2013 protocol. The introduction of less strict target values, however, does not substantively alter the fact that approximately two thirds of hypertensive patients can only be made normotensive with combination treatment. With regard to free-drug and fixed-dose combinations, a further benefit of the latter, from the patient’s perspective, is the considerable improvement in compliance that it brings (7, 8). The combination of ACE-inhibitor and long-acting Ca-channel-blocker stands out among combination antihypertensive treatment strategies by virtue of the target organ protection (carotid intima-media thickness and left ventricular hypertrophy) that can be demonstrated irrespective of blood pressure, in addition to the effective blood pressure control (9-10). The ACCOMPLISH trial certified the beneficial effect of ACE-inhibitor and Cachannel-blocker combination therapy on the development of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients, as compared to the ACE-inhibitor diuretic combination, which was observed alongside an identical reduction in blood pressure for both combination strategies (6). The protocols of the European and Hungarian Society of Hypertension recommend combinations of ACE-inhibitors and Ca-channel-blockers as the first-line therapy for hypertension. Lisinopril-amlodipine® is a fixed-dose combination of two long-acting agents that are very similar in terms of their pharmacokinetic properties. The lisinopril-amlodipine® combination containing 10 mg lisinopril and 5 mg amlodipine was authorised for the treatment of hypertension in Hungary in 2004, while the 20/5 mg formulation was authorised in 2012, and Lisinopril-amlodipine forte (20/10 mg) in 2009. A Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) proved in 1995 that an increase in both systolic blood pressure and the total cholesterol level together leads to an exponential increase in cardiovascular morbidity. Since then numerous controlled, randomised clinical trials involving high case numbers have proven the effect of statins in reducing cardiovascular events in both primary and secondary prevention (4S, LIPID, AFCAPS) (14-17). With imaging tests (IVUS, CIMT) it was also proven that with a more than 50% decrease relative to the starting LDL cholesterol level, not only the inhibition of progression in the atherosclerotic plaques, (REVERSAL), but also a regression could be observed (ASTEROID) (18, 19). In view of the above, the current international (ESC/EAS 2011) and domestic (5th Hungarian Cardiovascular Consensus Conference) therapeutic protocols consider lipid treatment to the target value to be necessary: in the case of high CV risk the LDL cholesterol target value is <2.5 mmol/L, and for very high CV-risk patients <1.8 mmol/L, with at least a 50% reduction relative to the starting LDL cholesterol level. To achieve these strict targets, however, effective and tolerable statin products are needed. The European guidelines (ESC/EAS) published in July 2011 considerably broadened the range of very high CV risk patients, thus necessitating the more widespread use of modern statin products in order to achieve the target values (20). The ACC/AHA protocol issued in November 2013 resulted in a paradigm shift. The main message of this protocol was that, based on a meta-analysis of the multicenter trials, there is no evidence of the usefulness of treatment aimed at reaching the target value. The new protocol does not recommend attaining the target value, but rather, based on the percentage drop in the LDL-C value, it recommends medium (35-50%) or highly effective (>50 LDL-C decrease) statin therapy depending on the patient’s risk status. This novel approach provides a decision-making algorithm that is easier to use in everyday practice. At the start of our present trial, however, determination of the trial protocol took place on the 2011 European and domestic protocols that were still in effect at the time. In Hungary, based on general-practice treatment data, the proportion of high CV-risk patients attaining the LDL-cholesterol target value rose from 14% in 2004 to 40% in 2010 (CÉL 2004, Multi Gap 2010) (21). The extent of the increase is commendable in itself, as it indicates the success of the awareness-raising campaign and the increasingly widespread use of statins; however, 60% of the patients (and an even higher proportion in the case of very high cardiovascular risk) are still not at the target value, which needs to be improved in the light of the Hungarian cardiovascular mortality data. Rosuvastatin is one of the most effective and tolerable statin products, and for the majority of patients it facilitates the achievement of the LDL-cholesterol level target value in the context of both primary and secondary prevention (STELLAR, MERCURY I) (22, 23). With imaging tests (IVUS, CIMT) effective rosuvastatin treatment also resulted in regression of the atherosclerotic plaque (ASTEROID, METEOR) (19, 24). In patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome, 20 mg rosuvastatin brings about a similar reduction in further cardiovascular events and the risk of mortality as a high, 80 mg dose of atorvastatin (CENTAURUS) (25). In the STELLAR trial, with rosuvastatin treatment, not only was the more effective attainment of the LDL-cholesterol target value proven, in comparison to atorvastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin, but a significantly greater increase in the HDLcholesterol level was also observed (22). Rosuvastatin-containing, cost-effective generic products have been available in Hungary since 2010. The aim of the trial The trial analyses the effectiveness and safety of lisinopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drug therapy and cholesterol-reducing rosuvastatin free-drug combination therapy, with the involvement of patients suffering from concomitant mild or moderate hypertension and hypercholesterolemia with a high and very high cardiovascular risk. Our trial is a 6-month, prospective observational noninterventional clinical trial (Ethical Permit number: ETT TUKEB 8096-1/2012/EKU), with the aim of analysing what proportion of the participating patients successfully reduce their initial above-target-value blood pressure to the target value with fixed-dose lisinopril/amlodipine (10 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/10 mg) combination therapy. With regard to the lipid profile we examine the proportion of patients who previously did not achieve the target LDL-cholesterol value, but succeed in attaining the target value with rosuvastatin (10 mg and 20 mg) therapy. The secondary aim is to assess the safety and tolerability of concurrent lisinoprilamlodipine and rosuvastatin therapy. In the course of this we investigate the adverse events (side effects) occurring following the start of the therapy, the incidence of such events, and the proportion in which the side effects warrant suspension of the therapy. Patients and methods Patient selection A total of 2,452 patients suffering from mild and moderate essential hypertension with a high and very high cardiovascular risk were inducted into the trial at 256 testing centres, where the examiners were doctors of internal medicine, cardiologists, hypertensionologists and general practitioners. The prerequisites for participation in the trial were the following: over 18 years of age, mild (grade 1) or moderate (grade 2) hypertension, and the patient has not previously received antihypertensive therapy or has been treated before but is not at the target value: symptom-free, high cardiovascular risk hypertensive patient ≥140/90 Hgmm; diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, coronary and peripheral arterial disease ≥130/80 Hgmm; hypertensive patients aged over 79, ≥150/90 Hgmm; hypercholesterolemia, LDL-cholesterol above the target value based on cardiovascular risk: in the case of no cardiovascular symptoms and high cardiovascular risk LDL-Ch ≥3.0 mmol/L; in the case of high cardiovascular risk (diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, coronary and peripheral arterial disease) LDL-Ch ≥2.5 mmol/L; in the very high risk group LDL-Ch ≥ 1.8 mmol/L (ref.) reading of the patient information leaflet and signing of an advance declaration of consent. The exclusion criteria included the following: Contraindications as listed in the summary of product characteristics for lisinoprilamlodipine (10 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/10 mg) and rosuvastatin (10 and 20 mg) products, known allergy or oversensitivity to ACE-inhibitors, Ca-channel-blockers or statin severe renal disease, malignant disease, unreliable contraception, pregnancy, breastfeeding. Trial design, end points The trial is a prospective observational noninterventional trial. Every inducted patient received 6 months of follow-up monitoring (a total of 4 visits: initial assessment, month 1, month 3, month 6). The trial end points were the following: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure Se-LDL-cholesterol ABPM testing parameters (subgroup analysis) Clinician's Global Impression of Change (CGIC) Adverse reactions that can be presumed to be related to the lisinoprilamlodipine/rosuvastatin therapy (side effects) Other safety parameters The investigational products lisinopril-amlodipine (10 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/10 mg) tablet rosuvastatin (10 mg, 20 mg) tablet Trial parameters Pulse and blood pressure measurement: took place in compliance with the professional guidelines, after 5 minutes rest, on both arms, two successive times, in a seated position. A minimum of 2 minutes had to pass between two measurements. For blood pressure measurement the use of an electronic instrument with an upper-arm cuff was permitted. Laboratory tests: the laboratory tests performed in compliance with the professional protocols took place in accordance with the following: Visit 1 (Patient Induction): blood sugar, se-carbamide, se-creatinin, GFR, SGOT (ASAT), SGPT (ALAT), CK, t-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, se-Na, se-K, CRP, uric acid, microalbuminuria Visits 2-4 (months 1, 3, 6): we performed the repeated laboratory tests, for the purpose of checking the effectiveness and safety of the antihypertensive and lipid-reducing therapy, after at least 10 hours of fasting. Body Mass Index: Following determination of the anthropological data (body weight, height), a BMI calculation was performed. ABPM test: Performance of this test was not a compulsory element of the trial; the data of a total of 9 patients was recorded. (Clinician's Global Impression of Change (CGIC): During visits 2-4 the treating physician compared the patient’s current condition with that observed at the beginning of the trial, and rated (on a scale of 0-7) the extent in which the clinical impression had changed. Medication administered during the observation At all the post-induction visits there was an opportunity for dose correction for efficacy or tolerability reasons in accordance with the professional protocols and summaries of product characteristics of the investigational products. If the patient’s blood pressure or LDL-cholesterol failed to reach the target value despite taking the maximum administrable dose, then the complementary therapy was determined by the treating physician, observing the guidelines of the Hungarian Society of Hypertension and other professional protocols. After the final visit the patient received continuous medication therapy in accordance with the professional protocols. Registration of the data The patients’ data was recorded on a trial data form on the basis of the protocol. The data forms were designed in compliance with the data protection and data handling requirements, and the form of identification ensured the protection of personal rights. Statistical evaluation The analysis of the collected data was processed in accordance with the EU-GCP/ICH standards. In addition to the customary standard analyses (average, SD, median, T-test), the statistical analysis of all the clinical and laboratory data was performed with correlation calculation and variance analysis. We described the change with a 95% confidence interval between the initial and final visit. In the course of using the statistical procedures we treated a p<0.05 probability level as significant. Results A total of 2,452 patients were inducted into the trial, and at the end of the trial a total of 2,241 patients’ data were processed; in 211 cases the patients were excluded due to noncompliance with the protocol (predominantly incomplete documentation). The demographic data of the patients are shown in Table 1 (in progress). The patients’ average age was 63.2 ± 11.4, and their average BMI was 29.1 ± 4.1 kg/m 2. Based on the risk estimate proposed by the 5th Therapeutic Consensus Conference 6.8% of the patients (158 patients) were in the very high cardiovascular risk group. 48% of the patients suffered from mild (grade 1) hypertension, and 52% from moderate (grade 2) hypertension. 32% of the patients had not previously received antihypertensive treatment, while 68% had received the medication therapies listed in Table 1: 65% monotherapy, 35% combination therapy. Effect of lisinopril-amlodipine therapy on blood pressure The change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure precipitated by the lisinoprilamlodipine therapy is shown in Figure 1. Relative to the initial visit, by the 2nd visit both the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure value had decreased significantly. The extent of the decrease was further magnified by the time of 4th visit (month 6) as a result of the titration of the lisinopril-amlodipine dose. In terms of the heart rate, a decrease that was small in the clinical sense but nevertheless significant was demonstrable over the 6 months of therapy, in comparison to the starting value (75.3 ± 8.0/minute vs. 73.3 ± 5.9/minute, p<0.05). If we examined the patients on the basis of whether they had previously received antihypertensive drug therapy, the efficacy of lisinopril-amlodipine therapy proved to be independent in this respect: the patients that had previously received antihypertensive drug therapy reacted similarly to the treatment-naive patients in terms of the extent of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduction. In the subgroup analyses, we detected no significant differences, in terms of the starting systolic blood pressure and heart rate, between the groups with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and peripheral arterial disease, and the group that was free of these related conditions (Table 3). Minimal, but nevertheless statistically significant, differences were detectable in their initial diastolic blood pressure readings (p<0.05). The change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure precipitated by the Lisinopril-amlodipine therapy was the same in the examined subgroups (Table 3). Applied dose of lisinopril-amlodipine The distribution of the dose of lisinopril-amlodipine applied in our trial (10 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/10 mg) is shown in Figure 2. Efficacy of lisinopril-amlodipine therapy We regarded the lisinopril-amlodipine therapy as efficacious if blood pressure was below the target value for the risk group. The <140/90 Hgmm target value was attained by 68% of the patients by the 2nd visit, and had risen to 91% by the 4th visit as a result of the dose titration (Figure 3). The <130/80 Hgmm target value was attained by 30% of the patients by the time of the 2nd visit, and had changed to 57% by the 4th visit. It is important to emphasise, however, that the 2013 ESC/ESH hypertension protocol published during the trial abolished the <130/80 Hgmm target blood pressure. In the case of hypertensives over 79 years of age the target blood pressure was <150/90 Hgmm, and 94% of patients in this subgroup (n=176) attained the target value in the course of the 6-month therapy. Effect of rosuvastatin therapy on lipid levels The change in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol precipitated by the rosuvastatin therapy is shown in Figure 4. Relative to the starting value, by the 2nd visit the total cholesterol and se-LDL-cholesterol levels had decreased significantly, and the extent of this reduction was further magnified by the time of the 4th visit (month 6) as a consequence of the dose titration. Serum triglyceride also showed a significant decrease, and HDL-cholesterol a significant increase, during the observation period (p<0.05, Table 2). Applied dose of rosuvastatin The distribution of the dose of rosuvastatin applied in our trial (10 mg, 20 mg) is shown in Figure 5. Efficacy of rosuvastatin therapy We regarded the rosuvastatin therapy as efficacious if the se-LDL-cholesterol level was below the target value for the risk group. The <3.0 mmol/l target value was attained by 59% of the patients by the time of the 3rd visit, and this had risen to 67% by the 4th visit due to the dose titration (Figure 6). In response to the 6-month rosuvastatin therapy the proportion of patients attaining the <2.5 mmol/l target value was 49%, while the <1.8 mmol/l target value was attained by 40% of the patients. Effect of the therapy on the Clinician's Global Impression of Change (CGIC) The results of the CGIC questionnaire showed significant (63.2%), moderate (20.8%) and limited (8.7%) improvements in response to lisinopril-amlodipine/rosuvastatin therapy, with a low proportion of unchanged condition (6.7%) and a minimal extent of deterioration (0.58%). Change in laboratory parameters during the therapy The 6-month lisinopril-amlodipine/rosuvastatin therapy resulted in a significant, clinically material decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, microalbumin, CRP and blood sugar values; a clinically minimal decrease was shown in the potassium values (p<0.05), while in respect of the GPT, CN, creatinin and sodium we observed no significant change (Table 2, enclosed separately). An increase that was minimal in clinical terms but nevertheless statistically significant was demonstrable in the GOT, CK and HDL-cholesterol levels. Adverse events During the 6 months of the trial we observed adverse events that can be linked to the therapy in 4.5% (98 patients) of the 2,241 patients inducted into the trial. Most of the total of 148 adverse events were of mild intensity, and in 4 cases they were of moderate intensity. The events did not necessitate hospital treatment. The majority of the adverse events comprised dry cough (3.1%), swollen feet and legs (2.2%), muscle pain (1.1%), dizziness (0.2%). The lisinopril-amlodipine therapy was suspended in a total of 9 cases, and the rosuvastatin therapy in 10 cases. The reasons for this were a failure to attend the control visit in 2 cases, dry cough (5 cases), swollen feet and legs 2) and muscle pain (8). Summary The most important way of reducing atherosclerotic events is by influencing the cardiovascular risk factors. The most important factors in this regard are: smoking, high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia. The new European and American protocols (ESC, ACC/AHA, JNC8, ASH) have considerably modified the cardiovascular risk rating, and the definition of the target value considered to be necessary in anti-lipid therapy. It is important to emphasis, however, that as the main guideline for anti-lipid treatment the protocols continued to highlight statin-based therapies. Any statin is capable of reducing the LDL-cholesterol level; however, the anti-lipid effect has proven to be different for the various statins. In the STELLAR trial the LDL-cholesterol reduction, among the investigated statins (pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), rosuvastatin proved to be the most efficacious. At a 40 mg daily dose a 55% decrease was demonstrable. The newly published European hypertension protocol did not highlight any of the 5 main drug classes (BB, ACE-inhibitor, ARB, CaA, diuretic) in monotherapy, but it did mention that the use of combination products should be given preference with a view to improving cooperation on the part of patients, especially in the light of the typically low therapy-loyalty of hypertension patients. Among the drug combinations, it is recommended to combine one of the inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (ACE-inhibitor or ARB) with a diuretic or CaA. The combination of ACE-inhibitor and long-acting CaA facilitates effective blood pressure control, but is also shown to result in target organ protection and produce a decrease in cardiovascular events that is independent from, and exceeds, the extent of the reduction in blood pressure (ref.). In our clinical trial we analysed the effectiveness and safety of lisinopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drug therapy and cholesterol-reducing rosuvastatin free-drug combination therapy in patients suffering from concomitant hypertension and hypercholesterolism with a high and very high cardiovascular risk. The importance of our trial, besides the high case number, lies in the fact that we conducted it in respect of high-risk patient groups, in the presence of related conditions, where several risk factors were known to exist simultaneously. Managing the risk factors, which for patients means continuously taking several medicines, often causes problems and detracts from compliance with the drug regime. The wide range of doses of the lisinopril-amlodipine fixed-dose combination (10mg/5mg, 20mg/5mg, 20mg/10mg) allows for personalised treatment and attainment of the target blood pressure without the need for the patient to take more pills. This considerably improves cooperation, the continuous taking of the medication, and ultimately cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Our results showed lisinopril/amlodipine-based therapy to be effective for the majority of the patients. In the case of symptom-free high cardiovascular risk hypertensive patients, the previous above-target (140/90 Hgmm) blood pressure reading fell below the target value during 3 months of therapy in 68% of cases, and thus proportion had increased to 91% by the end of the 6-month course of therapy. In the presence of related conditions 57% of the patients had attained the 130/80 Hgmm target value by the end of the trial. It is important, however, to emphasise that the 2013 ESC/ESH hypertension protocol that was published during the trial cancelled the <130/80 Hgmm target blood pressure reading (11). In our trial, at induction the patients’ blood pressure was not at the target value in spite of the high and very high cardiovascular risk. In this patient group, from a clinical perspective the importance of attaining the target value is compounded. Based on the presented results, fixed-dose combination lisinopril/amlodipine-based therapy is also effective in reducing blood pressurereducing in patients who had previously received treatment but did not attain the target value. If we examined the patients on the basis of whether they had previously received antihypertensive drug therapy, the efficacy of lisinopril-amlodipine therapy proved to be independent in this respect: the patients that had previously received antihypertensive drug therapy reacted similarly to the treatment-naive patients in terms of the extent of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduction. In the course of the subgroup analyses, in the groups with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and peripheral arterial disease, we detected no significant difference in the efficacy of lisinopril-amlodipine-based antihypertensive therapy. In our trial, the sustained, continuous use of rosuvastatin significantly reduced the LDL-cholesterol level: with 6 months of therapy, 67% of the patients attained the target value of below 3.0 mmol/l. The proportion of patients attaining the <2.5 mmol/l target value was 49%, while the <1.8 mmol/l target value was reached by 40% of the patients. The reduction in total cholesterol and triglyceride (25% and 23% respectively), and the increase in HDLcholesterol (6%) was also significant. It should be emphasised that the substantial improvements observed in the lipid profile occurred in the patient population with a high cardiovascular risk, where 48% of the patients had previously received statin therapy but despite this their LDL-cholesterol level was not at the target value. In our trial, in the case of type-2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome significant positive changes were demonstrable, corresponding to the earlier ones, in respect of the lipid components; meanwhile we found no appreciable difference between the lipid value changes of the two groups. Based on the laboratory tests, with the 6-month course of lisinopril- amlodipine/rosuvastatin therapy we detected a significant decrease in the CRP value. Our trial outcome correlates well with the results of the JUPITER trial, although the extent of the decrease falls short of the one detected in that study. This is probably due to the differing profile of the patients involved in the trial: the JUPITER trial’s considerable CRP reduction and pleiotropic effect was achieved against the backdrop of a normal LDL-cholesterol level and elevated CRP. Especially worthy of note in our trial is the statistically significant and clinically important decrease in the laboratory parameters that are known to be independent risk factors: uric acid, microalbumin and blood sugar. Our results correlate well with the observations of the ASCOT BPLA study: When using an ACE-inhibitor - Ca-channel-blocker combination, in addition to the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular risk reduction, the incidence of new type-2 diabetes also proved to be lower in comparison to the beta-blocker diuretic combination (11). An increase that was minimal in clinical terms but nevertheless statistically significant was demonstrable in terms of the GOT and CK levels. According to our results, a CK increase of more than 200 IE occurred in 0.92% of cases, and GOT values of over 60 IE in 0.9%. It should be noted, however, that in the JUPITER trial no difference was detected in these two parameters in comparison to the placebo group. Further studies also highlighted that an increase in the CK level occurs is rarest with the use of rosuvastatin (ref). The tolerability of the therapy is excellent or can be rated as good for the vast majority of patients; the patients’ quality of life increased significantly, and we observed a minimal overall deterioration in the condition of only 0.58% of the patients. No serious adverse effects occurred during the trial. The majority of the adverse events took the form of dry cough (3.1%), swollen feet and legs (2.2%) and muscle pain (1.1%). The lisinoprilamlodipine/rosuvastatin therapy was suspended in a total of 19 cases. This was mainly attributed to dry cough and muscle pain. Based on the results of our clinical trial and the literature data detailed above, it can be concluded that lisinopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drug therapy and rosuvastatin free-drug combination therapy may be used effectively and safely in patients suffering from concomitant mild or moderate hypertension and hypercholesterolemia with a high and very high cardiovascular risk. References 1. WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data, World health statistics. ISBN 978 92 4 156359, 2008. 2. Yusuf S Two decades of progress in preventing vascular disease. The Lancet 2002; 360:2-3 3. Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration. Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet 2010;376:1670–1681. 4. 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