Study of the effectiveness of additional reductions in cholesterol and homocysteine (SEARCH): Characteristics of a randomized trial among 12064 myocardial infarction survivors

Eligibility for SEARCH. *The upper age limit was raised from 75 to 80 in a protocol amendment in June 2000.

Trial profile.

Relation between the proportional reduction in vascular event rate and mean absolute LDL-C difference. Gray square represents summary result for MVEs from Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) collaborative meta-analysis of effect of 1 mmol/L LDL-C reduction in randomized trials of statin versus no statin.³ Sloping line plotted through zero and CTT result. Solid squares represent individual trials comparing more versus less intensive statin therapy, with data derived from published meta-analysis.¹⁰ (Directly comparable outcome is not available for these trials, so endpoint of “CHD death or MI” is plotted.) Average achieved LDL difference for A-to-Z is based on aggregate of achieved differences during month 1, months 2 to 4, and thereafter.⁶ Open square represents projected result for SEARCH, based on primary outcome of MVE and estimated average LDL-C difference of 0.4 mmol/L between intensive and standard statin groups. The area of each square is proportional to the amount of statistical information in trial or meta-analysis. Vertical lines are 95% CIs.