HDL-Atherosclerosis Treatment Study (HATS)

Cardiovascular Diseases Clinical Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00000553
• Other study ID #: 97
• Secondary ID: R01HL049546
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• First received: October 27, 1999
• Last updated: February 8, 2016
• Start date: September 1994
• Est. completion date: February 2001

Study information

• Verified date: March 2005
• Source: University of Washington
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

To measure the effects of lipid-lowering drugs and/or antioxidant vitamins on progression or regression of coronary heart disease as measured by quantitative angiography in patients with low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Description:

BACKGROUND:

More than one-third of patients with coronary disease have "low" high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels (less than 35 mg/dl; United States 20th percentile) and "normal" low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) (less than 145; United States mean), a group for whom current treatment guidelines are not based on clinical trial data. Low HDLc levels are strong, independent predictors of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality risk, equally so for both men and women. This high coronary artery disease risk may be due to an imbalance between delivery of cholesterol into the arterial intima by LDL and its removal by HDL. Also, since HDL serve as antioxidants and cytoprotectants, an important HDL role may be to prevent LDL oxidation and thus limit macrophage-mediated intimal lipid accumulation or to prevent vascular cell toxicity. Recent epidemiologic, experimental, and clinical trial evidence suggests that a 15 mg/dl rise in HDL cholesterol would reduce coronary artery disease incidence and mortality by 30 to 70 percent and that antioxidant vitamins E, C, and beta-carotene might reduce coronary artery disease events and atherogenesis. The potential absolute benefit is much greater in those with existing coronary artery disease. It has also been shown that HDLc rises in response to exercise, smoking cessation, weight reduction, and monounsaturated fats.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Randomized, Phase III. Each patient was randomly assigned to a lipid-altering strategy or its placebo and to an antioxidant vitamin strategy or its placebo, in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The four groups were simvastatin-niacin plus an antioxidant vitamin cocktail; simvastatin-niacin plus vitamin placebo; antioxidant vitamins alone plus simvastatin-niacin placebo; or placebos for both strategies. All groups were counseled with respect to diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. The primary endpoint was the average change in proximal obstructive disease during the 2.5 year interval between baseline and the followup study. Secondary endpoints included the frequency of cardiac events, including cardiac death, confirmed non-fatal myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or revascularization by bypass or angioplasty for medically refractory unstable ischemia. The trial ended in August, 1999.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 0
• Est. completion date: February 2001
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 35 Years to 68 Years

Eligibility

Men and women with low HDL cholesterol, with at least one 50% stenotic coronary lesion or three 30% stenotic coronary lesions. Women range in age from 35 to less than 68 and men from 35 to less than 63.

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Coronary Disease
• Heart Diseases
• Myocardial Ischemia

Intervention

Drug:
• simvastatin

• niacin

• antioxidants

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Washington	National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

References & Publications (5)

Brown BG, Cheung MC, Lee AC, Zhao XQ, Chait A. Antioxidant vitamins and lipid therapy: end of a long romance? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002 Oct 1;22(10):1535-46. Review. — View Citation

Brown BG, Zhao XQ, Chait A, Fisher LD, Cheung MC, Morse JS, Dowdy AA, Marino EK, Bolson EL, Alaupovic P, Frohlich J, Albers JJ. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2001 Nov 29;345(22):1583-92. — View Citation

Brown BG, Zhao XQ, Chait A, Frohlich J, Cheung M, Heise N, Dowdy A, DeAngelis D, Fisher LD, Albers J. Lipid altering or antioxidant vitamins for patients with coronary disease and very low HDL cholesterol? The HDL-Atherosclerosis Treatment Study Design. Can J Cardiol. 1998 Apr;14 Suppl A:6A-13A. Review. — View Citation

Brown G, Stewart BF, Zhao XQ, Hillger LA, Poulin D, Albers JJ. What benefit can be derived from treating normocholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease? Am J Cardiol. 1995 Sep 28;76(9):93C-97C. Review. — View Citation

Cheung MC, Wolfbauer G, Brown BG, Albers JJ. Relationship between plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity and HDL subclasses among patients with low HDL and cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis. 1999 Jan;142(1):201-5. — View Citation