Thursday, July 14, 2011

On April 25, 2011, the AIM-High study, a trial of high-dose extended-release niacin (Niaspan) added to a statin in 3000 patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, high triglyceride levels, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), was halted 18 months early because niacin offered no additional benefits over statin alone.[1] When the news was announced on May 26, 2011, the news media had a blast with this "negative" finding. Misinterpretation of the sound bites from this study has caused significant confusion and apprehension among patients and healthcare providers. What are we to make out of this report?


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