This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Helsinki Heart Study

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - included 4,081 men aged 40-55 years who were free of CHD at the start of the study
  • active treatment - gemfibrozil 1,200 mg per day - 2051 randomised to receive gemfibrozil, 2030 randomised to receive placebo
  • follow-up period - 5 years
  • mean baseline lipid levels at the start of the study - total cholesterol 7.0 mmol/L, LDL-c 4.9 mmol/L, HDL-c 1.22 mmol/L, triglyceride 2.0 mmol/L
  • over the 5 year period of the study
    • gemfibrozil led to a mean increase in HDL-c of 11% and reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-C and serum triglyceride by 10%
    • cumulative rate of total cardiac end points was 27.3 per 1000 in the gemfibrozil group and 41.4 per 1000 in the placebo group (relative reduction of 34% (p<0.2))
    • no significant difference between groups in total death rate
    • the main benefit of the gemfibrozil treatment group was seen in patients who had one or more features of metabolic syndrome e.g. plasma triglyceride > 2.3 mmol/L, HDL-c<1.0mmol/L or body mass index > 26 (2)

Reference:

  1. N Engl J Med. 1987 Nov 12;317(20):1237-45
  2. The British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease 2003; 3(3): 162-7.

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.