Study Summary:
What is the FIRST study?
This clinical research study is evaluating the effect of adding an investigational cholesterol drug to the current cholesterol treatment in people who also have heart disease (or risk factors for heart disease). Adding this investigational drug may help provide better cholesterol management and may help reduce the thickening of the carotid artery walls (an indicator of your risk for having a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event).
Qualified Participants Must:
• Be 45 years of age or older
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Be taking a statin (such as Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, or Lescol) to manage your cholesterol or are willing to begin taking Lipitor (at no cost to you)
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Have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease
Qualified Participants May Receive:
High-quality medical care and close monitoring by a study doctor, health exam, including a full cholesterol workup and electrocardiogram (ECG), carotid artery ultrasound (a painless, non-invasive test for measuring risk of heart disease), standard cholesterol drug therapy, Lipitor, plus investigational drug or placebo (a drug that loods like the investigational drug but has no active ingredient), and dietary counseling based on the American Heart Association guidelines.