Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides: Impact on Global Health Outcomes (also known as AIM-HIGH) was a randomized control trial designed to assess the efficacy of niacin (extended-release) added to statin therapy in reducing cardiovascular events in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
[1] AIM-HIGH was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
The study enrolled 3,414 patients with established ASCVD and dyslipidemia, characterized by low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dL for men and <50 mg/dL for women) and elevated triglycerides (150–400 mg/dL).
[1] The results of the AIM-HIGH trial, published in 2011, showed that adding niacin to statin therapy did not significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events compared to statin therapy alone:[1] The findings of the AIM-HIGH trial had significant implications for the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with established ASCVD:[1] AIM-HIGH contributed to a shift in clinical practice guidelines, emphasizing the limited additional benefit of niacin in patients with low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides already receiving effective statin therapy.
Subsequent guidelines have focused on intensifying statin therapy or considering other agents for specific lipid abnormalities rather than adding niacin.