Triglyceride Screening May Improve Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Assessment in Latinos with Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes

To characterize metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence and cardiometabolic risk, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), plasma lipids, blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference were measured in 211 Latino adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants were obese (BMI=33.7±7.8 kg/m²) and had poor glycemic control (HbA1c=9.6±1.8 %; FPG=190±85 mg/dL), but normal LDL and HDL cholesterol concentrations (98±38 mg/dL, and 52±14 mg/dL, respectively). Relative to the lowest, participants in the highest quintile of plasma triglycierides had higher total cholesterol (23%; p<.0001), FPG (47%; p<.0001), systolic blood pressure (3%; p<.05) and diastolic blood pressure (6%; p<.05), and lower HDL cholesterol (23%; p<.01). Comparable relationships were observed in an age-adjusted regression model. Framingham risk was equivalent to 9.4±6.4% and 12.2±9.6% 10-year CHD risk in men and women, respectively (p<.05). Cardiometabolic risk in this population is associated with a high prevalence of the MetS despite the relatively low cholesterol concentrations. Triglyceride screening may help identify individuals at higher risk.