Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vascular disease

Meta-regression of CIMT trials—data in, garbage out

  • News & Views
  • Published:

From Nature Reviews Cardiology

View current issue Sign up to alerts

Meta-regression of trials using carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate end point leads to unreliable results owing to heterogeneity in methods, interventions, and outcomes of pooled trials. CIMT will continue to be a worthwhile surrogate trial end point supported by two decades of technical progress and clinical atherosclerosis research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Greenland, P. et al. 2010 ACCF/AHA guideline for assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 56, 2182–2199 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Costanzo, P. et al. Does carotid intima–media thickness regression predict reduction of cardiovascular events? A meta-analysis of 41 randomized trials. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 56, 2006–2020 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Taylor, A. J. et al. Extended-release niacin or ezetimibe and carotid intima–media thickness. N. Engl. J. Med. 361, 2113–2122 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lorenz, M. W. et al. for the PROG-IMT Study Group. Individual progression of carotid intima media thickness as a surrogate for vascular risk (PROG-IMT): Rationale and design of a meta-analysis project. Am. Heart J. 159, 730–736e2 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Smilde, T. J. et al. Effect of aggressive versus conventional lipid lowering on atherosclerosis progression in familial hypercholesterolaemia (ASAP): a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial. Lancet 357, 577–581 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tendal, B. et al. Disagreements in meta-analyses using outcomes measured on continuous or rating scales: observer agreement study. BMJ 339, b3128 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Goldberger, Z. D. et al. Are changes in carotid intima–media thickness related to risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction? A critical review and meta-regression analysis. Am. Heart J. 160, 701–714 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. LeLorier, J., Grégoire, G., Benhaddad, A., Lapierre, J. & Derderian, F. Discrepancies between meta-analyses and subsequent large randomized, controlled trials. N. Engl. J. Med. 337, 536–542 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Medstar Health Research Institute, Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street NW, Room 1E12, Washington, 20010, DC, USA

    Allen J. Taylor

  2. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Michiel L. Bots

  3. Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Room F4-159.2, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    John J. P. Kastelein

Authors
  1. Allen J. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michiel L. Bots
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John J. P. Kastelein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allen J. Taylor.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

A. J. Taylor is a consultant for Abbott. M. L. Bots and J. J. P. Kastelein declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taylor, A., Bots, M. & Kastelein, J. Meta-regression of CIMT trials—data in, garbage out. Nat Rev Cardiol 8, 128–130 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2011.12

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2011.12

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation