Reduction of transient myocardial ischemia with pravastatin in addition to the conventional treatment in patients with angina pectoris. REGRESS Study Group.

BACKGROUND

Lipid-lowering therapy reduces cardiac morbidity and mortality. Less is known about its potential anti-ischemic effect.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a 2-year prospective randomized placebo-controlled study, the effect of pravastatin 40 mg on transient myocardial ischemia was assessed. Forty-eight-hour ambulatory ECGs with continuous ST-segment analysis were performed in 768 male patients with stable angina pectoris, documented coronary artery disease, and serum cholesterol between 4 and 8 mmol/L (155 and 310 mg/dL). During the trial, patients received routine antianginal treatment. In the patients randomized to pravastatin, transient myocardial ischemia was present at baseline in 28% and after treatment in 19%; in the placebo group, it was found in 20% and 23% of the patients, respectively (P = .021 for change in percentage between two treatment groups; odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.93). Ischemic episodes decreased by 1.23 +/- 0.25 (SEM) episode with pravastatin and by 0.53 +/- 0.25 episode with placebo (P = .047). Under pravastatin, the duration of ischemia decreased from 80 +/- 12 minutes to 42 +/- 10 minutes (P = .017) and with placebo, from 60 +/- 13 minutes to 51 +/- 9 minutes (P = .56). The total ischemic burden decreased from 41 +/- 5 to 22 +/- 5 mm.min in the pravastatin group (P = .0058) and from 34 +/- 6 to 26 +/- 4 mm . min in the placebo group (P = .24). Adjusted for independent risk factors for the occurrence of ischemia, the effect of pravastatin on the reduction of risk for ischemia remained statistically significant (odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.91; P = .026).

CONCLUSIONS

In men with documented coronary artery disease and optimal antianginal therapy, pravastatin reduces transient myocardial ischemia.