title: Extended-release niacin/laropiprant lipid-altering consistency across patient subgroups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia, extended-release niacin/laropiprant (ERN/LRPT) improves key lipid parameters associated with increased atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This analysis examined data from four Phase III, randomised, double-blind trials to determine the consistency of ERN/LRPT's lipid-altering efficacy among subgroups of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from four Phase III, randomised, double-blind trials of ERN/LRPT were analysed to determine the consistency of ERN/LRPT's lipid-altering efficacy among subgroups of gender, race (white, non-white), region (US, ex-US), baseline age (<65, ≥65 years), use of statin therapy, CHD risk status (low, multiple, high) and type of hyperlipidemia (primary hypercholesterolemia, mixed dyslipidemia), as well as across baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels. End-points included the per cent change from baseline in LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels. Consistency of the treatment effects on LDL-C, HDL-C and TG across subgroups was evaluated by examining treatment difference estimates with 95% confidence intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with ERN/LRPT significantly improved LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels compared with placebo/active comparator in each study cohort. These effects were generally consistent across all examined subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extended-release niacin/laropiprant represents an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of dyslipidemia across a range of patient types.
authors.affiliation: L-MARC Research Center, Louisville, KY 40213, USA. hbaysmd@aol.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bays
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCrary Sisk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maccubbin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007211:Indoles; C518174:MK-0524; D014280:Triglycerides; D009525:Niacin