By 1957, the research community thought they understood what caused heart attacks and how to lessen the risk. Note that smoking was not then considered to be a risk factor.
When Dr. Norman Jolliffe designed the Anti-Coronary Club, he was sure that he understood what was causing Health Disease.
Jolliffe enrolled 1100 men in the Anti-Coronary Club, and established a matching control group. From 1957 to 1962, the experiment seemed to be going well, and success was reported after 5 years.
Norman Jolliffe himself died of a heart attack in 1961, but his "successful" program continued.
By 1967 the results were negative and the experiment was closed. Twenty-six members of the Anti-Coronary Club died, but only six members of the control group had died.
The Anti-Coronary Club was intended to prevent heart attacks. Eight Anti-Coronary Club members died of heart attacks, while zero members of the control group died of heart attacks. The Anti-Coronary Club was clearly not a success.
Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial
Led by Dr. Jeremiah (Jerry) Stamler, opening in 1973, this trial tried to correct the "mistakes" of the Anti-Coronary Club trial. This time smoking was targeted.
There were four interventions; stop smoking, take blood pressure medication if needed, eat a low cholesterol diet, and eat a low fat diet.
The trial closed early after 9 years. Men in the intervention group died at a higher rate than those in the control group. This FAILURE was embarrassing and the result was set aside, because it wasn't understandable. Clearly they did not know what caused heart disease.
Still, for the next thirty years these failed recommendations were the basis for public policy on the recommended diet, and how to reduce the risk of heart disease.
President Eisenhower's Heart Attacks
From 1955 through 1969
The Failure of the Best Care
President Eisenhower suffered his first heart attack in 1955. The most eminent heart specialist in the USA was assigned to his care, Dr Paul Dudley White. Eisenhower became the poster boy for "modern heart disease care."
He did exactly what he was told. It but that had no real effect, he continued to have attacks, seven in all, which eventually killed him.
Eisenhower was a heavy smoker, of normal weight, with normal total cholesterol. In that time, smoking was very common and was not seen as a possible problem.
Eisenhower was advised to eat fewer saturated fats and limit dietary cholesterol. He did exactly as he was told, but his weight increased, and his total cholesterol went up. A military man who prided himself on self-discipline, Eisenhower tried to do better. Once again, the result was worse.
Over the next 13 years, there were 6 more heart attacks.
Eisenhower suffered persistent problems with his digestive system.
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