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In a trial co-funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and by the manufacturer of azithromycin, researchers tested whether treatment with that antibiotic is effective for the secondary prevention of coronary events. They randomized 4012 patients (mean age, 65; 79% men; 87% white) with documented, stable coronary heart disease (CHD) to receive placebo or azithromycin (600 mg) weekly for 1 year. Stable CHD was defined as prior MI, ≥50% coronary-artery stenosis, or previous coronary revascularization.
At 4 years of follow-up, incidence of the primary endpoint (death from CHD, nonfatal MI, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina) was nearly identical in the two groups (22.3%, azithromycin; 22.4%, placebo…