Lipid-lowering therapy in people with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

The risk of cardiovascular disease is markedly increased in people with type 2 diabetes. There is abundant epidemiological and clinical trial evidence that lipid abnormalities play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease in diabetes. Although the benefits of lipid-lowering therapy are well established in people without diabetes, the evidence in people with diabetes is not as well established.

RECENT FINDINGS:

Recent population studies of lipid-lowering therapy and cardiovascular disease outcomes that included people with diabetes and performed a separate subgroup analysis were reviewed. Lipid lowering with statins and fibrates is effective in improving cardiovascular disease outcomes in diabetes, and their effectiveness is similar to that in the non-diabetic population. This effect is well established in secondary prevention and is accumulating for primary prevention.

SUMMARY:

Individuals with diabetes require aggressive management of dyslipidaemia as part of an overall management strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Individuals with a previous cardiovascular disease event should be on lipid-lowering therapy, whereas in those who have not had a previous cardiovascular disease event, the decision to use lipid-lowering therapy should be based on lipid levels and the overall risk of a future event. The results of large studies that are currently in progress specifically in people with diabetes should resolve outstanding questions in relation to lipid-lowering therapy in diabetes.

• Authors: Stephen Colagiuri, James Best
• Journal: Current opinion in lipidology (Curr Opin Lipidol) Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 617-23 (Dec 2002) ISSN: 0957-9672 [Print] England
• PMID: 12441885 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Chemical References

• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Lipids
• Gemfibrozil

Topics

• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (blood, complications)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gemfibrozil (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Hyperlipidemias (drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Hypolipidemic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Life Style
• Lipids (blood)
• Risk Factors
• Treatment Outcome