ABSTRACT
Background: Trials of atorvastatin combined either with fenofibrate or with omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) have shown promising results in atherogenic dyslipidemia but there are very few studies where both these TGs lowering agents have been compared with each other. This study was conducted to compare efficacy and safety of these two agents on lipid profile of patients of atherogenic dyslipidaemia on background statin therapy and also to monitor effects of these interventions on serum uric acid (SUA) levels.Methods: About 90 patients of dyslipidemia were randomised to 3 groups and received O3FA (2000 mg), fenofibrate (80 mg) or dietary restrictions, each with atorvastatin (20 mg) in background for a period of 90 days. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C,TGs, LDL-C, SGOT and SGPT levels were done at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Other parameters (SUA and BMI) were done at baseline and 12 weeks.Results: Both group 1 (O3FA) and group 2 (fenofibrate) showed highly significant fall in TG levels (p <0.001) in comparison to group 3 (dietary restrictions) whereas comparative TG reduction between groups 1 and group 2 was not significant. Group 2 also showed significant fall in LDL-C levels (p <0.01) in comparison to group 3. LDL-C reduction, TG reduction and SUA reduction was more in group 2 compared to group 1 followed by group 3. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse effects in three study groups.Conclusions: Combination of fenofibrate and atorvastatin was more effective than that of omega-3 fatty acid and atorvastatin, in lowering serum TG and LDL-C levels. There was a significant reduction in SUA levels in all three groups, but combination of fenofibrate and atorvastatin again showed better outcomes. With respect to the safety, all the 3 groups were comparable. O3FA, however, may be a good alternative to fibrates in patients not tolerating latter.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes and urbanization are major contributors to increased risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Studying whether atherogenic dyslipidaemia increases with urbanization in type 2 diabetes mellitus is, therefore, important. The sample of the present study consisted of 400 subjects. They were categorized according to residential area and diabetes into four groups: urban diabetic group, urban non-diabetic control group (from a metropolitan city Delhi), rural non-diabetic diabetic group, and rural control group (from villages of Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana). Differences in lipid levels and risk factors of emerging cardiovascular diseases between groups were evaluated with analysis of variance. Diabetic patients of both urban and rural areas had significantly higher total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), TC to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL) ratio, TG to high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio, and atherogenic index (AI) compared to respective controls (p<0.05). The HDL concentrations in urban diabetics were significantly lower (p<0.05) than in urban non-diabetic group and rural diabetic group. Comparison between urban and rural diabetic groups showed significantly higher atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD) in the urban patient-group (p<0.05). We evaluated significant relationships of diabetes and urbanization with AD by multiple regression analysis. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed high area under curve (AUC) for TG/HDL in urban diabetic group (0.776, p<0.0001) and in rural diabetic group (0.692, p<0.0001). It is concluded that diabetes was associated with higher AD parameters. Urbanization in diabetes is also associated with elevated levels of AD, indicating higher risk in urban population. This study suggests that TG/HDL may be particularly useful as atherogenic risk predictor in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.