Helsinki Heart Study

Last reviewed 01/2018

• double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - included 4,081 men aged 40-55 years who were free of CHD at the start of the study
• active treatment - gemfibrozil 1,200 mg per day - 2051 randomised to receive gemfibrozil, 2030 randomised to receive placebo
• follow-up period - 5 years
• mean baseline lipid levels at the start of the study - total cholesterol 7.0 mmol/L, LDL-c 4.9 mmol/L, HDL-c 1.22 mmol/L, triglyceride 2.0 mmol/L
• over the 5 year period of the study
  • gemfibrozil led to a mean increase in HDL-c of 11% and reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-C and serum triglyceride by 10%
  • cumulative rate of total cardiac end points was 27.3 per 1000 in the gemfibrozil group and 41.4 per 1000 in the placebo group (relative reduction of 34% (p<0.2))
  • no significant difference between groups in total death rate
  • the main benefit of the gemfibrozil treatment group was seen in patients who had one or more features of metabolic syndrome e.g. plasma triglyceride > 2.3 mmol/L, HDL-c<1.0mmol/L or body mass index > 26 (2)

   

Reference:

1. N Engl J Med. 1987 Nov 12;317(20):1237-45
2. The British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease 2003; 3(3): 162-7.