title: Reducing cardiovascular risk in diabetes: beyond glycemic and blood pressure control.
abstract: Patients with diabetes mellitus have a much higher rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population, and, in addition to glycaemia and hypertension, dyslipidemia has emerged as an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor in these patients. In most patients with type 2 diabetes, the major features of dyslipidemia are increased triglyceride levels, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and changes in the composition and level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Clinical trials evaluating both primary and secondary prevention of CVD demonstrate that lipid-lowering therapy results in a substantial reduction of cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the first priority for treatment, with a statin in adequate dosage as the first choice for pharmacological therapy. The first statin trial conducted solely in patients with type 2 diabetes and no prior CVD demonstrated a 37% reduction in cardiovascular events in patients randomized to atorvastatin 10 mg compared with placebo. Additional trials that further address the benefits of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with diabetes are near completion, or are underway, and should provide important information about further attenuating risk in patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care and General Practice, Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
authors.forename: F D Richard
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Hobbs
mesh_terms: D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008954:Models, Biological; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D000069059:Atorvastatin