The Low HDL On Six Weeks Statin Therapy (LOW) Study

Objective: To assess, in patients with coronary heart disease and low HDL-cholesterol, the efficacy and tolerability of Niaspan as an adjunct to statin therapy in clinical practice.

Background: Despite the clear reduction in mortality and cardiovascular morbidity associated with reduction of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) by statin therapy, a sizeable proportion of patients remain at risk of subsequent adverse cardiac events [1-3]. It is clear that in some patients, further risk reduction may be obtained by addressing other elements of the lipid profile. In particular, sub-analysis of the Framingham study has shown that for any given level of LDL-C, the risk of coronary heart disease events decreased with increasing HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels [4]. In addition, the adverse cardiac risk associated with elevated triglycerides is predominantly seen in patients with low HDL-C levels [5]. The protective effect of HDL-C appears predominantly mediated via reverse cholesterol transport. In this process, excess cholesterol in cell membranes is transferred to HDL-C in the peripheral tissues, cholesterol is converted to cholesteryl ester in HDL-C by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), the newly synthesized cholesteryl ester is transported from HDL-C to lower density lipoproteins by the action of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and finally, the cholesterol is removed from plasma by hepatic clearance of plasma lipoproteins. Of the available licensed lipid lowering agents, nicotinic acid has the greatest potential for raising HDL-C, in addition to giving favourable reductions in LDL-C, triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein B-100 and elevation of Apolipoprotein A-1.

Early studies with nicotinic acid confirmed its efficacy in improving cardiac outcomes. The Coronary Drug Project [6], studied 8341 men with previous MI. A 26% reduction in non fatal MI and 24% reduction in cerebrovascular events was reported after 6 years follow up [6] and an 11% reduction in mortality after 15 years follow up [7]. The Stockholm Ischemic Heart Disease Secondary Prevention Study [8] compared niacin plus clofibrate vs. placebo in 555 post MI survivors and after 5 years reported a 26% reduction in overall mortality (p<0.05) and 36% reduction in CHD mortality (p<0.01). In the current era, statin therapy is considered mandatory for patients with confirmed coronary artery disease [3]. However, nicotinic acid appeared safe and efficacious in combination with statin therapy as demonstrated in the more recent HDL Atherosclerosis Treatment Study (HATS) [9], where the frequency of the composite end point (death, MI, stroke, or revascularization) was reduced from 24% with placebo to 3% with simvastatin-niacin therapy. While flushing was previously a use limiting factor with the immediate release nicotinic acid (niacin), a new extended release preparation (Niaspan) has reduced the incidence of use limiting flushing to <6%. Several studies demonstrate the ability of Niaspan to improve HDL levels, either as monotherapy [10,11], or in addition to statin therapy [12]. To date the safety and efficacy of Niaspan has not been studied in a placebo controlled manner, in a group of patients with coronary artery disease already on statin therapy.

Study population: Patients will be recruited primarily from the cardiology wards of Craigavon Cardiac Centre, Craigavon Area Hospital.

Inclusion criteria: