Benefits of niacin by glycemic status in patients with healed myocardial infarction (from the Coronary Drug Project)

The Coronary Drug Project, conducted during 1966 to 1974, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 5 lipid-modifying agents in 8,341 men with previous myocardial infarction.1 Among the 5 drug treatment regimens, only niacin significantly reduced the risk of (1) cardiovascular events during a mean follow-up of 6.2 years and (2) total mortality during 6.2 years with study treatment plus an additional 9 years of post-trial follow-up (Figure 1).2,3 Cardiovascular and total mortality outcomes in the niacin and placebo groups are presented by baseline glycemic status and by change in glycemic status from baseline to year 1.