OBJECTIVES: Translate clinical benefits of raising HDL-C into life years saved (LYS) using randomized placebo controlled clinical trial data of NIASPAN as monotherapy (NER), or in combination with statin (NER/S), in patients with inadequate HDL-C control. METHODS: Two analyses were undertaken: translation of clinical benefits into survival benefits using NER, and NER/S, in patients lacking optimal HDL-C control.  Validated equations (HDL-C Mortality Equations), were used to translate HDL-C and LDL-C into reductions in mortality. NER effects are taken from placebo-controlled trials.  Comparative efficacy of NER/S is taken from seven clinical trials with NER/S versus a statin only.  The treatment arms were categorized by dose and the weighted average effects were calculated for change from baseline in HDL-C as and LDL-C. RESULTS: Applying the regression parameter estimates from the validated equation (i.e., 1.02 for LDL-C and –1.51 for HDL-C) to NER trial results, and after adjusting for the placebo effect, yields the estimated percent reductions in cardiovascular events, 23.22%, 34.89% and 36.4% at 1000 mg/day, 1500 mg/day and 2000 mg per day, respectively.  Translating increases in HDL-C by adding NER/S after adjusting for the statin alone effect are 0.10 mmol/L, 0.2213 mmol/L and 0.2063 mmol/L for 1,000 mg, 1,500 mg and 2,000 mg per day, yielding 27.16, 59.75, and 55.7 lives saved per 10,000 patients. The Prospective Studies Collaborative report a 0.33 mmol/L increase in HDL-C is associated with about a third (33%) lower IHD mortality.  Weighted average increases in HDL-C, with NER/S are 0.318 mmol/L.  Applying change in HDL-C values using the HDL-C Mortality Equations with bootstrapping, the hazard ratios are reduced by 29% [95% CI: -0.34 – -0.23], 30% [95% CI: -0.35 - -0.24] and 32% [95% CI: -0.38 - -0.26]. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotinic acid increases survival in patients with low HDL-C when used as NER or NER/S.