title: Early intensive statin treatment for six months improves long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (Extended-ESTABLISH trial): a follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ESTABLISH trial found using volumetric intravascular ultrasound that atorvastatin therapy started early and continued for 6 months significantly reduced plaque volume in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the benefits of early statin administration on long-term outcomes remain unclear. We therefore examined whether the early initiation of statin in patients with ACS improves long-term prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Extended-ESTABLISH trial included 180 patients with ACS who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). These patients were randomized here to groups given either early intensive lipid-lowering therapy (n=90; atorvastatin 20 mg/day) or standard care (control, n=90) within 48 h of events. Baseline characteristics between the two groups did not significantly differ at the time of ACS onset. Six months after PCI, all patients were treated with statins to achieve an LDL-C value of <100 mg/dL. We compared the first occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Prognostic data were fully documented during the entire follow-up period (mean, 1538+/-707 days). Cumulative event-free survival was significantly higher in the atorvastatin, than in the control group (p=0.041; log-rank test). Furthermore, by adjusting for validated prognosticators, early statin administration was identified as a good predictor of MACCE (HR 0.46, 95%CI 0.23-0.86; p=0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In-hospital initiation of statin therapy immediately after ACS conferred long-term benefits and 6 months of intensive lipid-lowering therapy improved long-term clinical outcomes after PCI in patients with ACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomotaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Naotake
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daida
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin