Screening and treatment for hyperlipidaemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetes: a prospective assessment of 350 patients
Smellie, W.S.; Sandler, D.; O'Donnell, J.; MacCuish, A.C.
British Journal of Clinical Practice 49(2): 83-85
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0947 PMID: 7779650 Document Number: 448106
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.