Recent publications on Residual Risk

According to the latest report from the EURIKA study, one in five patients without a history of cardiovascular events, have elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or both. The prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidaemia is even higher in high risk patients, including those with type 2 diabetes.
 
EURIKA (European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Usual Daily Practice) is a cross-sectional observational study of primary and secondary prevention care across Europe. Given that atherogenic dyslipidaemia is an important contributor to lipid-related residual cardiovascular risk, especially in patients with insulin resistant conditions, the current report investigated the prevalence of this dyslipidaemia among primary prevention patients in Europe. In total, data from 7,641 patients (52% female, almost all Caucasian) were evaluated. Atherogenic dyslipidaemia was defined according to guideline recommendations for desirable levels of triglycerides and HDL-C.
 
Over 20% of these patients had either elevated triglycerides or low HDL-C levels consistent with atherogenic dyslipidaemia. Despite this, more than half of these patients (55%) were not receiving lipid lowering therapy.
 
These data clearly show the unmet clinical need for management of atherogenic dyslipidaemia across Europe, which warrants urgent attention.