Diabetic dyslipidaemia in Gozo

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the frequency with which Type Il Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients managed in a primary care setting in the Gozitan community achieved American Diabetes Association (ADA) treatment goals for lipids and whether this was affected by the degree of glycaemic control. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 215 randomly selected nDM patients treated on a primary care level was conducted. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from all patients and analysed for HbAlc, FBG, TChol, HDL and LDL (Friedewald equation). Patients were subdivided into three groups according to glyceamic control: {HbAlc < 7% (Good); 7-8% (Satisfactory); >8% (Poor)}. Amongst the three glycaemic control groups, differences in mean lipid levels were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and differences in ADA lipid target achievement by Chi squared testing. Results: Amongst the three glycaemic control groups, there were Significant differences: in all the mean lipid levels (TChol, p<0.004; Tri, p<O.OOI; HDL, p<0.04; LDL, p<0.004 ) and lipid target achievement for Tchol (p<0.03); Tri (p<O.OOl); HDL (p<0.05). Frequency of ADA target achievements were: HbAlc (33.9%), TChol (58.6%), ill (67.9%), HDL(66%), LDL (40%). Frequency of targets at goal: (none = 9.3%; 1 = 16.7%; 2 = 29.3%; 3 = 21.4%; all 4 = 23.3%). Key Words Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Glycaemic control; Diabetic Dyslipidaemia, American Diabetes Association, Primary Care. 24 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 01 DECEMBER 2009 Conclusion: Better glycaemic control is associated with a significantly better lipid profile for each of the lipid components. The magnitude of this association was sufficient to influence achievement of all individual ADA lipid goals except that for LDL.