Time to prioritise atherogenic dyslipidaemia to reduce residual microvascular risk?
Prof. JC Fruchart, Prof. J. Davignon, Prof. M Hermans
Atherogenic dyslipidaemia, the combination of low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and elevated triglycerides, is an important contributor to residual vascular risk. The recent European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel highlighted atherogenic dyslipidaemia as a key driver of cardiovascular risk, especially in individuals with diabetes and/or metabolic disease.(1) Indeed, both low HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the latest European guidelines for management of dyslipidaemia.(2)
Evidence also links atherogenic dyslipidaemia with residual microvascular risk in people with diabetes. Observational data have implicated elevated triglycerides or low HDL cholesterol and the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy.(3-6) Data from the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) and Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) studies in type 2 diabetes patients provide further support. Treatment with fenofibrate, which targets atherogenic dyslipidaemia, positively impacted the progression of diabetic retinopathy and albuminuria, as well as reducing lower limb amputations (especially those arising from microangiopathy).(7-12)
This new report from Zoppini et al (2012)(13) provides further support for the importance of targeting atherogenic dyslipidaemia to reduce microvascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes. Their findings were based on a large prospective cohort, followed over about 5 years. The study clearly highlighted the ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol as an important predictor of the risk of microvascular complications, in particular diabetic nephropathy, beyond conventional risk factors such as glycaemic and blood pressure control.
It is also highly relevant that the prognostic significance of an elevated triglyceride-HDL cholesterol ratio was more pronounced in individuals with well controlled plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Previous research has already highlighted the high cardiovascular risk in these patients. In the case-control REALIST Macrovascular Study, the presence of both elevated triglycerides (=190 mg/dL or 2.1 mmol/L) and low HDL cholesterol (<30 mg/dL or 0.78 mmol/L), increased coronary risk 10-fold irrespective of LDL-cholesterol control.(14)
As the number of people with type 2 diabetes escalates, particularly in emerging regions such as Asia and the Middle East, with adoption of Westernised lifestyles, and those with diabetes are living longer, due to advances in management and therapy, the burden of diabetes, especially due to microvascular complications has escalated. The cost implications are enormous, given that the presence of diabetes complications more than doubles the cost of care.(15) Taking action now to limit the development of both micro- and macrovascular diabetes complications, not only makes good clinical sense, but also good economic sense.
These new data, added to other studies, provide renewed emphasis on atherogenic dyslipidaemia as an important modifiable contributor to both macrovascular and microvascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes at LDL cholesterol goal. On this basis, we propose that interventions targeted to atherogenic dyslipidaemia should be a priority, in addition to current standards of care, to reduce the high residual risk of vascular complications that persists in patients with type 2 diabetes.
References
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