Hypertriglyceridaemia in statin‐treated type 2 diabetic patients

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia (hyperTG) in 182 statin-treated type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. Predictors of hyperTG (≥2.3mmol/L) were investigated using logistic regression. The prevalence of hyperTG was 20.9%, with lower prevalence in patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol <2.5mmol/L (13.7%), and LDL-cholesterol <2.0mmol/L (8.8%). The prevalence of hyperTG plus low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (≤0.9mmol/L) was lower at 6.0%. The independent predictors of hyperTG were waist circumference (odds ratio [OR] 1.033 [95% confidence interval 1.004–1.063], p=0.027) and glucose (OR 1.30 [1.05–1.61], p=0.01), with glucose being the sole predictor in patients with LDL-cholesterol <2.5mmol/L (OR 1.45 [1.11–1.89], p=0.01) and LDL-cholesterol <2.0mmol/L (OR 1.59 [1.12–2.26], p=0.01). In this group of statin-treated T2DM patients, the prevalence of hyperTG was relatively high, but lower in patients with lower LDL-cholesterol levels. Residual hyperTG in statintreated patients could be addressed by therapeutic lifestyle interventions aimed at weight loss and improved glycaemic control and by further lowering of LDL-cholesterol. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons. Practical Diabetes 2011; 28(6): 257–260