Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) progression is increasingly used as a surrogate for vascular risk. This use is supported by data from a few clinical trials investigating statins, but established criteria of surrogacy are only partially fulfilled. To provide a valid basis for the use of IMT progression as a study end point, we are performing a 3-step meta-analysis project based on individual participant data. Objectives of the 3 successive stages are to investigate (1) whether IMT progression prospectively predicts myocardial infarction, stroke, or death in population-based samples; (2) whether it does so in prevalent disease cohorts; and (3) whether interventions affecting IMT progression predict a therapeutic effect on clinical end points. Recruitment strategies, inclusion criteria, and estimates of the expected numbers of eligible studies are presented along with a detailed analysis plan.

doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2010.02.008, hdl.handle.net/1765/27332
American Heart Journal
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Lorenz, M., Bickel, H., Bots, M., Breteler, M., Catapano, A., Desvarieux, M., Hedblad, B., Iglseder, B., Johnsen, S. H., Juraska, M., Kiechl, S., Mathiesen, E., Norata, G., Grigore, L., Polak, J., Poppert, H., Rosvall, M., Rundek, T., Sacco, R., … Thompson, S. (2010). Individual progression of carotid intima media thickness as a surrogate for vascular risk (PROG-IMT): Rationale and design of a meta-analysis project. American Heart Journal, 159(5).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2010.02.008