This was a multicentre, multinational, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, carried out in 144 centres in 14 countries. The duration of follow-up was 15 months on average, with a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3.8 years. 352 patients were lost to follow up through premature withdrawal from the ramipril group, versus 318 from the placebo group.