Non- high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetic dyslipidaemia

Elevated levels of blood lipids are one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetic dyslipidaemia is characterised by the presence of potentially atherogenic lipids, including high levels of plasma triglycerides (TGs), mild-to-moderately elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Statin therapy to reduce LDL-C levels is the mainstay of treatment practice to reduce CV risk. However, despite achieving targets for LDL-C, patients with diabetic dyslipidaemia remain at a high risk of residual CV events. Hence there is a need to target other components (i.e. elevated TGs) of the atherogenic dyslipidaemia that are not affected by treatment with statins. This review highlights the clinical benefits of using non-HDL-C, a single marker that includes all atherogenic lipoproteins, as a leading treatment target to reduce the residual CV risk.