Central laboratory
assays of lipid profile were conducted at randomisation
in samples obtained from all participants, in about 10%
of participants attending study visits at 1 and 4 years
after the initial randomisation, and from all participants
attending the 2·5-year visit. Diff erences between the
treatment groups in average blood lipid concentrations
were based on comparisons between all patients
allocated simvastatin plus ezetimibe and all allocated
placebo, irrespective of whether they were still compliant