PREVALENCE OF DYSLIPIDAEMIA IN DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING THE DIABETES CLINIC AT DOCTOR SHARIATI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BETWEEN OCTOBER 1998 AND SEPTEMBER 2000

In patients with type 2 diabetes, triglyceride (TG) is usually increased, HDL decreased, and LDL normal. This pattern is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. More recently, dense-particle LDL has been identified as an important risk factor for coronary heart disease. 298 patients with type 2 diabetes attending the diabetes clinic at Doctor Shariati University Hospital underwent anthropometric and biochemical assessment. Anthropometric measurements followed WHO criteria. Biochemical indices (apoB100, TG, cholesterol, LDL, LDL particle size, HDL, and apoA1) were measured using standard laboratory methods. One-way ANOVA was used to analyse data with SPSSv6 software. Mean patient age was 55±13.2 years. Mean duration of diabetes was 9.5±6.1 years. The majority of patients were moderate to severely overweight. 73.2% of patients had some form of hyperlipidaemia. 20.7% had isolated hypertriglyceridaemia, 21% isolated hypercholesterolaemia, and 31.5% mixed hyperlipidaemia. Mean apoA1 concentration was higher than normal in this group, and mean apoB100 concentration lower. LDL particle size generally followed a small and dense pattern. This study shows that LDL particles in both men and women with type 2 diabetes undergo both qualitative and quantitative changes. 35.5% of patients had smaller, denser LDL particles than normal. It appears that dyslipidaemia and B-pattern LDL particles are important risk factors for atherosclerosis in this group.