Ethnicity and glycaemic control are major determinants of diabetic dyslipidaemia in Malaysia

Aims To define the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in young diabetic patients i n Peninsular Malaysia and the contributory factors of dyslipidaemia in thes e subjects. Methods This is a cross-sectional study involving 848 young diabetic patien ts from seven different centres, with representation from the three main et hnic groups. Clinical history and physical examination was done and blood t aken for HbA(1c), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprote in (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. Results The overall lipids were suboptimal, worse in Type 2 diabetes mellit us (DM) patients compared with Type 1 DM patients. Of the Type 2 patients, 73.2% had total cholesterol > 5.20 mmol/l, 90.9% had LDL-cholesterol > 2.60 mmol/l, 52.6% had HDL-cholesterol < 1.15 mmol/l and 27.3% had serum trigly cerides > 2.30 mmol/l. There were ethnic differences in the lipid levels wi th the Malays having the highest total cholesterol (mean 6.19 mmol/l), and the highest LDL-cholesterol (mean 4.16 mmol/l), while the Chinese had the h ighest HDL-cholesterol (geometric mean 1.24 mmol/l). Ethnicity was an impor tant determinant of total, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol in Type 2 DM, and LDL- and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in Type 1 DM. Glycaemic control was a n important determinant of total, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in both Type 1 and Type 2 DM. Waist-hip ratio (WHR) was an important determinant o f HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in both types of DM. Gender was an impo rtant determinant of HDL-cholesterol in Type 2 DM, but not in Type 1 DM. So cioeconomic factors and diabetes care facilities did not have any effect on the dyslipidaemia. Conclusions The prevalence of dyslipidaemia was high especially in Type 2 D M patients. Ethnicity, glycaemic control, WHR, and gender were important de terminants of dyslipidaemia in young diabetic patients.