title: Low Prevalence of Elevated ApoB Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Not Receiving Lipid-Lowering Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in people with type 2 diabetes. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is known to be a better marker of CVD risk than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This study investigated apoB levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained blood samples from 507 consenting people with type 2 diabetes who were not receiving lipid-lowering medication and who had no previous history of CVD. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: men (M), women <50 years old (W1) and women ≥50 years old (W2). Primary analysis examined lipid parameters, specifically apoB. Secondary analysis involved classifying patients according to the Canadian Diabetes Association's apoB, LDL-C and triglyceride (TG) targets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a total mean apoB level of 0.92 g/L. Among patients who failed to achieve the LDL-C target, 28% of M, 39% of W1 and 30% of W2 met the apoB target. The proportions of individuals categorized as being above the LDL-C and apoB targets were significantly different in all 3 groups (p<0.01). When LDL-C was below target and TG was <1.5 mmol/L, 100% of M and W1 and 93% of W2 met the apoB target.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The discordance between the proportions of patients meeting LDL-C and apoB targets may lead to patients being erroneously classified. ApoB and LDL-C correlate very well when TG is <1.5 mmol/L, but not when ≥1.5 mmol/L. Approximately one-third of patients met both LDL-C and apoB goals. Thus, not all patients with type 2 diabetes should be considered to be at a high risk of CVD.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: hught@istar.ca.
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tildesley
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazanderani
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bondy
keywords: C-LDL; LDL-C; apolipoprotein B; apolipoprotéine B; diabéte de type 2; type 2 diabetes