title: The CARDS trial: diabetic patients dealt a winning hand.
abstract: Until recently, the role of statin therapy in diabetic patients without clinical signs or symptoms of coronary heart disease had been inadequately defined. The Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS) is a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to compare the effects of atorvastatin with placebo in preventing primary coronary events in diabetic patients. After a median of only 3.9 years (the study was terminated approximately 2 years early due to the magnitude of benefit attributable to atorvastatin therapy), risk for major cardiovascular events was decreased by 37%, acute coronary heart disease-related events were also reduced by 36%, coronary revascularizations by 31%, and stroke by 48%. Benefit emerged within 1 year of initiating therapy.
authors.affiliation: Sterling Rock Falls Clinic, 101 East Miller Road, Sterling, IL 61081, USA.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armani
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Toth
mesh_terms: D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin