Screening and treatment for hyperlipidaemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetes: a prospective assessment of 350 patients.
This report presents experiences in screening 350 non-insulin-dependent diabetics for hypercholesterolaemia and results of 1 year's treatment. Mean serum total cholesterol was 6.4 mmol/l at screening; 46 patients whose initial total serum cholesterol was above 7.0 mmol/l attended for detailed assessment and treatment. Mean total cholesterol concentrations fell between screening and review (7.8 vs 7.1 mmol/l, P < 0.01). Levels fell below 7.0 mmol/l in 13 patients with diet alone. After excluding patients with secondary dyslipidaemia (including poor diabetic control), 10 patients received lipid-lowering drug treatment. Total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations fell significantly and the HDL/non- HDL cholesterol ratio improved on treatment. Screening diabetic patients identifies a small group of hyperlipidaemic patients, whose lipoprotein profiles improve with drug treatment. Many of those screened, however, do not ultimately require drug treatment using a cut-off of 7.0 mmol/l.
Smellie
W S
WS
Institute of Biochemistry, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland.
Sandler
D
D
O'Donnell
J
J
MacCuish
A C
AC
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies