Beneficial Impact of Xuezhikang on Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Elderly Hypertensive Patients With Previous Myocardial Infarction From the China Coronary Secondary Prevention Study (CCSPS)

Abstract

Coronary heart disease, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are highly prevalent and commonly coexist in people who are middle-aged and older. Previous data suggested that lowering cholesterol concentrations in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease improved clinical outcomes. Xuezhikang, a partial extract of red yeast rice containing statin, has a marked impact on lipids. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the impact of Xuezhikang on reducing cardiovascular events and mortality in elderly Chinese hypertensive patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) enrolled in the Chinese Coronary Secondary Prevention Study. In this randomized trial, 1530 elderly hypertensive patients (> or = 65-years-old) with previous MI were assigned either to placebo (n = 758) or to Xuezhikang (n = 772) daily for an average of 4.5 years. The primary endpoint was recurrent coronary events; the secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality and other clinical events, including adverse effects. There were 68 cases of coronary events (8.8%) detected in the Xuezhikang group and 108 cases (14.3%) in the placebo group (38.2% risk reduction by Xuezhikang therapy). Death from coronary heart disease (CHD) totaled 49 cases in the Xuezhikang group (6.4%) and 68 cases in the placebo group (9.0%), indicating that Xuezhikang significantly decreased the risk of CHD death by 29.2%. Our study demonstrated that Xuezhikang therapy could effectively and safely reduce cardiovascular events and all-cause death in Chinese elderly hypertensive patients with previous MI. This finding may have an important implication for the treatment of elderly hypertensive patients with CHD.

Zhibitai is equally efficacious in lowering cholesterol as atorvastatin

“…1,2 The results of this study thus add to the existing evidence for the use of red rice yeast extract in hyperlipidaemia. 1,2 The results of this study thus add to the existing evidence for the use of red rice yeast extract in hyperlipidaemia.…”

Nutraceuticals and Atherosclerosis: Human Trials

“…More recently, a double-blind, multicenter trial in China has demonstrated, in 4870 patients with a previous MI and high total cholesterol levels after 4.5 years followup, that xuezhikang administration (a commercial red yeast rice preparation) at a dose of 0.6 g twice daily was associated with a reduction in the incidence of major coronary events, including nonfatal MI and death from CHD compared to placebo (5.7% vs. 10.4%) [51]. Subsequent subgroup analyses of this trial have further supported these observations by confirming a reduction in cardiovascular outcomes among diabetics and in the elderly [52]. In addition, Xuezhikang has also shown, in small clinical trials, to effectively improve endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) [53].…”

Chinese herbal formulas for treating hypertension in traditional Chinese medicine: perspective of modern science

“…15, 16, 17 However, some trials have found null results. 18, 19, 20, 21 Numerous randomized controlled trials have been conducted in China to evaluate the efficacy of novel Chinese herbal formulas generated from well-known Chinese medicine formulas or from currently effective practices to treat hypertension. Some trials have effectively treated hypertension.…”