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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.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.09.011

Type

Journal article

Journal

Int J Cardiol

Publication Date

16/06/2006

Volume

110

Pages

137 - 145

Keywords

Atorvastatin, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Dyslipidemias, Heptanoic Acids, Humans, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Hypertension, Hypolipidemic Agents, Models, Biological, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Pyrroles, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Risk Factors, Triglycerides