The findings were presented Tuesday at the annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association.

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But today, at the annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association and in the medical journal Lancet, researchers announced that Tricor failed to stop heart attacks and prevent deaths in a five-year study of almost 10, 000 diabetics.

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The results of the current trial, presented by Halperin at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association, focused on patients with atrial fibrillation, a condition that increases the risk of stroke fivefold and afflicts 2 million Americans.

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Dr. Daniel Nul, who presented the findings of the study at a briefing held at the annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, said phone intervention also leads to a smaller -- 5 percent -- reduction in mortality.

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