title: Relationship between LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels and clinical outcome in the GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary-heart-disease Evaluation (GREACE) Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although available guidelines suggest reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L), the importance of target-oriented therapy remains controversial. To assess whether achieving guideline-based targets is of benefit, the relationship between clinical outcomes and lipid levels (baseline and on-study) was evaluated in the GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary-heart-disease Evaluation (GREACE) study. This study demonstrated significant reductions in morbidity and mortality associated with active dose titration of atorvastatin and structured management of dyslipidaemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intention-to-treat analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) was used to assess the relationship between lipid values and coronary events. Higher levels of LDL-C at baseline were associated with a greater risk of subsequent events among patients randomized to usual care. Reducing the LDL-C and the non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) level to the National Cholesterol Educational Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III goals required greater doses of atorvastatin for the higher baseline quartile of LDL-C. During the study there was a greater reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events in atorvastatin-treated patients who were in the highest quartile of LDL-C at baseline, after achieving the LDL-C treatment goal, in comparison to the usual care patients in the highest baseline LDL-C quartile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Achieving the NCEP ATP III LDL-C and non-HDL-C goals by titrating up the dose of atorvastatin was associated with a significant reduction in vascular events in patients with CHD. The greatest benefit was seen in those patients with the highest baseline LDL-C levels.
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis Unit, Aristotelian University, Hippocration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. athyros@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Vasilios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Athyros
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Athanasios A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Athanasios N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Symeonidis
authors.forename: Stella S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Daskalopoulou
authors.forename: Anna I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Kakafika
authors.forename: Anthimos N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Pehlivanidis
authors.forename: Vasilios I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Bouloukos
authors.forename: Anatoly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin