Effect of High-intensity Statin With Ezetimibe COmbination theRapy Versus High-intensity sTatin Monotherapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-eluting Stents; the ESCORT Trial

This study, called the ESCORT Trial, is comparing two strategies for lowering cholesterol after a common heart procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), where doctors place a small mesh tube (stent) in a blocked heart artery to restore blood flow. The question being investigated is whether combining a high-intensity statin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) with another medication called ezetimibe works better than taking a high-intensity statin alone. The study is open to men and women between the ages of 19 and 85 who recently had a newer-generation drug-eluting stent placed in their coronary arteries. People with liver disease, a history of allergic reactions to these medications, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those with a life expectancy under three years are not eligible. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups and followed for one year to compare how well each approach lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol and reduces the risk of future heart events. The findings could help doctors fine-tune cholesterol management for the millions of people who undergo stent procedures each year, ultimately reducing heart attacks and improving long-term outcomes.