Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of a trial comparing aggressive lipid lowering with atorvastatin versus revascularization treatments (AVERT)

This study describes the design, methodologic features, and baseline characteristics of an open-label randomized trial to determine whether aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin is an alternative to angioplasty or other catheter-based revascularization procedures in patients with significant coronary artery disease, Three-hundred forty-one patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol greater than or equal to 115 mg/dl and greater than or equal to 1 defined narrowing of a major coronary artery were randomized to atorvastatin or the indicated catheter-based revascularization and conventional core (including lipid-lowering therapy if prescribed). Ischemic events are tracked for 18 months, The primary efficacy parameter is the incidence of an ischemic event, defined as 1 of the following: cardiovascular death, cardiac arrest, nonfatal myocardial infarction, the need for coronary bypass grafting or angioplasty, cerebrovascular accident, and worsening angina verified by objective evidence requiring hospitalization (including unstable angina). (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.