of cardiovascular events. Increased cardiovascular
risk was defined by one or more of the following:
clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease
other than stroke; chronic kidney disease,
excluding polycystic kidney disease, with an estimated
glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to
less than 60 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of bodysurface
area, calculated with the use of the four variable
Modification of Diet in Renal Disease
equation; a 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease
of 15% or greater on the basis of the Framingham
risk score; or an age of 75 years or older.
Patients with diabetes mellitus or prior stroke
were excluded. Detailed inclusion and exclusion
criteria are listed in the Supplementary Appendix.
All participants provided written informed
consent.