Measuring flushing symptoms with extended-release niacin using the flushing symptom questionnaire: results from a randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Niacin is underutilised because of flushing. Lack of a quantitative tool to assess niacin-induced flushing has precluded the objective evaluation of flushing associated with extended-release (ER) niacin formulations. We developed the Flushing Symptom Questionnaire((c)) (FSQ), a quantitative tool to assess patient-reported flushing, and assessed its ability to characterise ER niacin-induced flushing.

Methods

This study focused on the responses to one question in the FSQ, the Global Flushing Severity Score (GFSS), reported on a 0-10 scale (none = 0, mild = 1-3, moderate = 4-6, severe = 7-9 and extreme = 10) to assess flushing during ER niacin initiation (week 1) and maintenance (weeks 2-8).

Results

Flushing severity with ER niacin was greatest during week 1

SUBMITTER: Paolini JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2408654 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature