Quantification of concordance and discordance between apolipoprotein-B and the currently recommended non-HDL-cholesterol goals for cardiovascular risk assessment in patients with diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia

Abstract

Aims: In patients with diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) provides an inaccurate reflection of LDL particle burden. The relative value of non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B) in estimating cardiovascular risk is controversial. We assessed the discordance between non-HDL-C and Apo-B targets in patients with diabetes with TG 200-499 mg/dl.

Methods: Data from 1430 determinations of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and Apo-B in ambulatory patients with diabetes were analyzed. Rates of discordance were calculated, based on the currently recommended LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and Apo-B goals.

Results: In patients with non-HDL-C goal of <130 mg/dl, there was a discordance with Apo-B level goal of <90 mg/dl, in 31% of samples. In patients with non-HDL-C goal of <100 mg/dl, 6% of samples had Apo-B ≥80 and 18% had Apo-B <80 mg/dl. Using the Apo-B goal of <70 mg/dl, these numbers were 37% and 3.5% respectively. There was also a significant gender difference, i.e. under-estimation of risk by suggested non-HDL-C cut-offs, in females, compared to males.

Conclusions: In patients with diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia, a considerable discordance exists between non-HDL-C and Apo-B. Our data suggest a need for prospective studies to compare the relative merits of non-HDL-C and Apo-B targets in the assessment of cardiovascular risk.