Evidence-Based Management of Diabetic Dyslipidemia in a VA Population: Beyond the LDL Target
Wei Gu, MD; Ronna Mallios, PhD; Peter Baylor, MD; Alan Cohen, MD; Vishal Pall, MD; and Jian Huang, MD.
Dr. Gu is a staff physician in the Department of Primary Care; Drs. Baylor, Pall, and Huang are staff physicians; and Dr. Cohen is associate chief of staff for ambulatory care, all at the Roseburg VA Medical Center in Oregon. Dr. Mallios is a biostatistician in the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Fresno Medical Education Program. In addition, Drs. Gu, Cohen, and Pall are clinical assistant professors, and Drs. Baylor and Huang are clinical associate professors, all in the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program.
Although low-density lipoprotein level has long been considered the
primary target in lipid-lowering therapy, these authors also suggest
targeting non–high-density lipoprotein level, especially
in patients with diabetic dyslipidemia.
Significant progress has been achieved in treating diabetic dyslipidemia in VA patients since the implementation of the VA clinical guidelines, which recommend a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) target level at 1 Metabolic derangement of lipids in type 2 diabetes is complicated, however, and treatment to LDL target alone does not attenuate cardiovascular events satisfactorily. Current knowledge and research data suggest the need for a multifaceted approach to the management of diabetic dyslipidemia.