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Lowering the Risk of Operative Complications Using Atorvastatin Loading Dose

Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Loading Dose Statins for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Complications in High-Risk Non-Cardiac Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01543555
Acronym
LOAD
Enrollment
648
Registered
2012-03-05
Start date
2012-11-30
Completion date
2015-06-30
Last updated
2015-12-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Aortic Aneurism, Myocardial Infarction, Peripheral Vascular Disease

Keywords

myocardial infarction, statin, perioperative care, peripheral vascular diseases, anesthesiology

Brief summary

Patients submitted to noncardiac surgeries are at increased risk of serious cardiovascular complications. Statins have shown to lower cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular events in other scenarios. The objective of this study is to explore the effects of atorvastatin, as compared with placebo, on the 30-day risk of a composite of death, nonfatal Myocardial Injury after Noncardiac Surgery (MINS), or stroke among patients who undergo noncardiac surgery.

Detailed description

Cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke are common in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries. To the moment there are no safe and effective interventions to reduce vascular events in this scenario. Data from observational studies and small-sized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown promising results in terms of risk reduction. In addition, experimental data have indicated that statins have acute anti-inflammatory properties, which promote the stabilization of atherosclerotic lesions and, therefore, might reduce the risk of MI, even in the short term. This study was designed to explore the effects of atorvastatin, as compared with placebo, on the 30-day risk of a composite of death, nonfatal Myocardial Injury after Noncardiac Surgery (MINS), or stroke among patients who undergo noncardiac surgery. The study was conducted in accordance with the prespecified protocol and reached successful enrollment rates when, by the end of 2014 the steering committee was invited to join an international initiative and participate in a much larger clinical trial to investigate this relevant question. Due to this outstanding possibility, the steering committee decided to redesign the study which is now formatted as an exploratory trial. As described, the study was completed with the inclusion of 648 participants in June, 2015.

Interventions

DRUGAtorvastatin

Atorvastatin 80mg anytime within 18 hours before surgery. A postoperative 40mg atorvastatin dose administered at least 12 hours after the 80mg loading dose. Subsequently, 40mg atorvastatin daily for the next seven days.

DRUGPlacebo

Matching placebo 80mg anytime within 18 hours before surgery. A postoperative 40mg matching placebo dose administered at least 12 hours after the 80mg loading dose. Subsequently, 40mg placebo daily for the next seven days.

Sponsors

Hospital do Coracao
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Patients older than 40 years-old undergoing non-cardiac surgery with an expected hospital stay of at least 24hs and that fulfills any one of the following criteria: A) Established vascular disease: i) Major vascular surgery ii) All types of surgery in patients with overt atherosclerosis (any significant or symptomatic coronary, cerebral or peripheral artery disease) B) Without established vascular disease: At least 3 risk factors for cardiovascular complications: 1. Major surgery; 2. Emergency surgery; 3. Previous history of heart failure; 4. diabetes; 5. Arterial hypertension; 6. Smoking habit along the last two years; 7. chronic kidney disease (creatinine greater than 2mg/dl); 8. Patients older than 70 years.

Exclusion criteria

* Previous intolerance to statins * Current rhabdomyolysis * Current use of statins * Severe Liver Failure (CHILD-PUGH SCORE C) * Breast-feeding or pregnancy * Low-risk surgeries

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Composite outcome30 daysComposite of all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery and stroke at 30 days.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Deep venous thrombosis30 daysAny signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis confirmed by adequate images on ultrasound, computed tomography or angiography
Clinically relevant atrial fibrillation30 daysA newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation that results in angina, heart failure, hypotension, or that requires treatment with an anti-arrhythmic drug or electric cardioversion
All-cause mortality30 daysDeath from any cause.
Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS)30 daysAn elevated cardiac troponin measurement judged due to cardiac ischemia (i.e., there was no evidence of a non-ischemic etiology like sepsis or pulmonary embolism).
Pulmonary embolism30 daysClinical signs accompanied by high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan or a filling defect of the pulmonary artery or its branches in a conventional arteriography or multi-slice spiral tomography.
Myocardial infarction30 daysRate of myocardial infarction as defined by any 2 of: typical chest pain OR typical ECG changes (ST-segment depression, ST-segment elevation, new Q waves, transitory T wave inversion) OR new rise in troponin levels (CK-MB levels if unavailable) OR new wall motion abnormality on echocardiogram. Pathological confirmation of myocardial necrosis on necropsy will also be accepted
Cardiovascular death30 daysEvidence of death primarily caused by one of the following: acute myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, heart failure or ventricular arrhythmias.
Rhabdomyolysis30 dayselevation of CPK levels higher than 5 times the normal upper limit and myalgia or any CPK elevation higher than 10 times the upper limit, regardless of symptoms.
Stroke30 daysNew neurologic symptom with compatible lesion on brain imaging and confirmation by a neurologist of the diagnosis of stroke.

Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026