Objective: Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
is considered as the primary target of lipid lowering therapy
and non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the
recommended second target. Recent studies claimed that
non-HDL cholesterol is a better predictor of cardiovascular
diseases (CVD) than LDL cholesterol. In this study we aimed
to compare non-HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol as a
CVD risk factor in confirmed diabetic subjects.
Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional observational
study, 1042 confirmed diabetic subjects selected randomly
were included. HbA1c concentrations were measured by
modified high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum
total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) concentrations
were measured by enzymatic end point method. Serum HDL
cholesterol was measured by a direct automated method
and LDL cholesterol was calculated by Friedewald’s
formula. Subjects having TC d” 150 mg/dL and TG > 400
mg/dL were excluded. Selected subjects were divided into 5
groups depending on TG values (up to TG concentrations
of 150 mg/dL, 151-200 mg/dL, 201-250 mg/dL, 251-300
mg/dL and 301-400 mg/dL respectively). In each group,
number of individuals with LDL cholesterol d” 100 mg/dL,
non HDL cholesterol d”130 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol
>100 mg/dL, non-HDL cholesterol >130 mg/dL were
calculated and compared by Fisher’s exact test.