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| Authors | C Aquilina M Cordina M Zarb Adami A Serracino Inglott |
| Abstract | Background: Hyperlipidaemia is common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. While any pattern of hyperlipidaemia can be seen in diabetes, common findings include elevations in serum levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, often associated with low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Each of these has been found to be an independent predictor of coronary artery disease in observational studies, but only treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol with HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors has been shown to reduce mortality in randomised controlled studies. Therefore, treating patients who have high LDLcholesterol levels with statins reduces cardiovascular risk. Aim: To investigate the efficacy of statins prescribed in patients with type 2 diabetes attending an out - patients clinic at the main state hospital in Malta outpatient diabetes clinic. Patients in group A n =43 were being managed with a low cholesterol diet and regular exercise only. Group B patients n 13 were being managed with simvastatin, a low cholesterol diet and regular exercise while those in group C n 58 were being managed with fluvastatin, a low cholesterol diet and regular exercise. The patients lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and HDL-C) was taken at the start of the study and repeated after 12 months. The two sets of data were compared using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The patients that were being treated with diet and exercise alone (Group A, n = 43) had an initial mean value for total cholesterol of 6.9 mmol/l which reduced to a mean value of 6.6 mmol/l p = 0:03 and an initial mean value for LDL-C of 4.6 mmol/l which reduced to a mean value of 4.3 mmol/l p= 0:005: Group B patients, that is, those on simvastatin did not show any statistically significant improvement in their lipid profile. Group C (fluvastatin) patients results had an initial mean value for total cholesterol of 6.8mmol/l which reduced to 6.3 mmol/l p = 0:003= and had an initial mean value for LDL-C of 4.4 mmol/l which reduced to 4.0mmol/l p = 0:008 Conclusions: While groups A and C both showed an improvement in the lipid profile over a 12 month period, the results achieved were still higher than the recommended target values. Studies have shown that the pharmacist involvement in secondary heart disease prevention clinic led to significantly improved therapeutic and economic outcomes. We therefore find it of interest to conduct a new investigation to determine, whether having a pharmacist as an integral member of the healthcare team will have an impact on the patients cholesterol levels. |
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| Journal | Pharmacy Education |
| Volume | Vol. 4 (3/4) |
| Pages | 224 - 225 |
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| Key words | Efficacy, Statins, Type 2 Diabetes, Hyperlipidaemia, pharmacy |