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Do patients at low risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) benefit from LDL lowering with rosuvastatin? To find out, researchers conducted a manufacturer-sponsored, double-blind trial, known as METEOR, in which low-risk patients (mean age, 57) were randomized to receive rosuvastatin (40 mg/day; 702 patients) or placebo (282 patients) for 2 years. Carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) was assessed, using ultrasound, before randomization and every 6 months for 2 years.
At baseline, all participants had 10-year Framingham risk scores <10% and mild to moderate CIMT (1.2 mm to <3.5 mm). LDL levels were <190 mg/dL in participants whose only CVD risk factor was older age and <160 mg/dL in those with multiple risk factors. The cohort’s overall mean LD…