Analyzing the Results of the Treating to New Targets Study
Authors: Luca Mascitelli, Eddie Vos
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2008)

Letters19 February 2008Analyzing the Results of the Treating to New Targets StudyLuca Mascitelli, MD and Eddie Vos, MEngLuca Mascitelli, MDFrom Comando Brigata Alpina “Julia”, 33100 Udine, Italy, and Sutton, J0E 2K0 Québec, Canada.Search for more papers by this author and Eddie Vos, MEngFrom Comando Brigata Alpina “Julia”, 33100 Udine, Italy, and Sutton, J0E 2K0 Québec, Canada.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-148-4-200802190-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The analysis of the TNT trial by Wenger and colleagues (1) suggests benefit from top-dose atorvastatin in patients older than 65 years of age. However, the 22 additional deaths from noncardiovascular causes more than offset the 5 fewer deaths from cardiovascular causes (vs. patients receiving low-dose atorvastatin), a result consistent with the entire TNT study population.This is ominous considering that this subgroup had the following characteristics at baseline: mean age of 70 years, 82% had angina, 18% had diabetes, 53% had a myocardial infarction, 49% had angioplasty, and 55% had bypass operations.Because stable angina is ...References1. Wenger NK, Lewis SJ, Herrington DM, Bittner V, Welty FK; for the Treating to New Targets Study Steering Committee and Investigators. Outcomes of using high- or low-dose atorvastatin in patients 65 years of age or older with stable coronary heart disease. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:1-9. [PMID: 17606955] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Sever PS, Dahlöf B, Poulter NR, Wedel H, Beevers G, Caulfield M, et al; ASCOT investigators. Prevention of coronary and stroke events with atorvastatin in hypertensive patients who have average or lower-than-average cholesterol concentrations, in the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial—Lipid Lowering Arm (ASCOT-LLA): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2003;361:1149-58. [PMID: 12686036] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Amarenco P, Bogousslavsky J, Callahan A, Goldstein LB, Hennerici M, Rudolph AE, et al; Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) Investigators. High-dose atorvastatin after stroke or transient ischemic attack. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:549-59. [PMID: 16899775] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Newman C, Tsai J, Szarek M, Luo D, Gibson E. Comparative safety of atorvastatin 80 mg versus 10 mg derived from analysis of 49 completed trials in 14,236 patients. Am J Cardiol. 2006;97:61-7. [PMID: 16377285] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Vos E, Rose CP. Questioning the benefits of statins [Letter]. CMAJ. 2005;173:1207; author reply 1210. [PMID: 16275976] Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Comando Brigata Alpina “Julia”, 33100 Udine, Italy, and Sutton, J0E 2K0 Québec, Canada.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoOutcomes of Using High- or Low-Dose Atorvastatin in Patients 65 Years of Age or Older with Stable Coronary Heart Disease Nanette K. Wenger , Sandra J. Lewis , David M. Herrington , Vera Bittner , Francine K. Welty , and Analyzing the Results of the Treating to New Targets Study Mark R. Goldstein Analyzing the Results of the Treating to New Targets Study Vera Bittner , David Herrington , and Nanette Wenger Analyzing the Results of the Treating to New Targets Study Robert A. Alter Metrics 19 February 2008Volume 148, Issue 4Page: 321-322KeywordsAnginaAngioplastyCholesterolConflicts of interestInformation storage and retrievalMyocardial infarctionStatinsStroke ePublished: 19 February 2008 Issue Published: 19 February 2008 CopyrightCopyright © 2008 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...