Objective: To assess the prevalence of low serum levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and its relationship with the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and arterial hypertension attended in Internal Medicine and Nephrology offices.
Methods: Cross-sectional, multicenter study, conducted in diabetic patients with hypertension, aged >/= 55 years old. Demographic, clinical and biochemical data were obtained from the patient's hospital records. Low HDL-C was defined as <40 mg/dl (men) or <46 mg/dl (women). The relationship between low HDL-C and CVD was assessed using logistic regression models.
Results: In 2,021 patients (mean age: 68.6 years, 48.9% women, 51.1% with established CVD), the prevalence of low HDL-C was 33.7% (95% CI: 31.5-35.7), it being higher in women (38.0%) than in men (29.6%, p<0.001), and higher in patients with previous CVD (37.3% vs. 29.9% in patients without CVD, p=0.001). In the multivariate analysis that included cardiovascular risk factors, an independent relationship between low HDL-C levels and CVD was observed (OR for CVD in patients with low HDL-C: 1.46 [CI 95%: 1.19-1.79, p<0.001]), compared to patients with normal HDL-C blood levels. A second model which was also adjusted for left ventricular hypertrophy and renal disease showed a similar association (OR 1.55 [1.21-2.00], p=0.001). This association was stronger in women than in men.
Conclusions: One out of three patients with diabetes and hypertension examined in Internal Medicine and Nephrology outpatient offices had low serum levels of HDL-C. Low HDL-C showed an independent relationship with a higher prevalence of CVD.