Benefits of niacin by glycemic status in patients with healed myocardial infarction (from the coronary drug project)

The Coronary Drug Project, conducted during 1966 to 1974, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 5 lipid-modifying agents in 8,341 men with previous myocardial infarction.(1) Among the 5 drug treatment regimens, only niacin significantly reduced the risk of (1) cardiovascular events during a mean follow-up of 6.2 years and (2) total mortality during 6.2 years with study treatment plus an additional 9 years of post-trial follow-up (Figure 1).(2,3) Cardiovascular and total mortality outcomes in the niacin and placebo groups are presented by baseline glycemic status and by change in glycemic status from baseline to year 1. (C) 2005 by Excerpta Medica Inc.