ASCOT: Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial

ASCOT was a randomized multicenter clinical trial including individuals from the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. 19,342 hypertensive patients aged 40-79 years with at least three other CV risk factors were randomized to one of two antihypertensive regimens, an amlodipine 5 mg-based regimen or atenolol 5 mg-based regimen. Participants with non-fasting total cholesterol concentrations 6.5 mmol/L or less formed the lipid-lowering arm and either received atorvastatin 10 mg or placebo in addition to antihypertensive regimen.

They found that the amlodipine-based regimen prevented cardiovascular events and induced less diabetes then the atenolol-based regimen as well as reduction in major cardiovascular events with atorvastatin.

Glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, TG, potassium, sodium, creatinine and blood pressure measurements are available at baseline and follow up.

There are 21 sub-studies, and these sub-study protocols are published in the Journal of Human Hypertension. (J. Hum. Hypertens. (2001) 15, suppl 1).

Website URL: http://www.ascotstudy.org/

• Patricia Munroe, Queen Mary University of London, Principal Investigator
• Mark Caulfield, Queen Mary University of London, Principal Investigator
• Helen Warren, Queen Mary University of London