Low HDL-cholesterol is common in European Type 2 diabetic patients receiving treatment for dyslipidaemia: data from a pan-European survey

Aims To measure the prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (men < 1.03 mmol/l; women < 1.29 mmol/l) in European Type 2 diabetic patients receiving treatment for dyslipidaemia. Methods The pan-European Survey of HDL-cholesterol measured lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors in 3866 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 4436 non-diabetic patients undergoing treatment for dyslipidaemia in 11 European countries. Results Diabetic patients were more likely to be obese or hypertensive than non-diabetic patients. Most patients received lifestyle interventions (87%) and/or a statin (89%); treatment patterns were similar between groups. Diabetic patients had [means (SD)] lower HDL-cholesterol [1.22 (0.37) vs. 1.35 mmol/l (0.44) vs. non-diabetic patients, P < 0.001] and higher triglycerides [2.32 (2.10) vs. 1.85 mmol/l (1.60), P < 0.001]. More diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients had low HDL-cholesterol (45% vs. 30%), high triglycerides (>= 1.7 mmol/l; 57% vs. 42%) or both (32% vs. 19%). HDL-cholesterol < 0.9 mmol/l was observed in 18% of diabetic and 12% of non-diabetic subjects. Differences between diabetic and non-diabetic groups were slightly greater for women. LDL- and total cholesterol were lower in the diabetic group [3.02 (1.05) vs. 3.30 mmol/l (1.14) and 5.12 (1.32) vs. 5.38 mmol/l (1.34), respectively, P < 0.001 for each]. Conclusion Low HDL-cholesterol is common in diabetes: one in two diabetic women has low HDL-cholesterol and one diabetic man in four has very low HDL-cholesterol. Management strategies should include correction of low HDL-cholesterol to optimize cardiovascular risk in diabetes.