Prevalence of Dyslipidemia in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with Type 1 Diabetes tend to present premature cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia is a relevant risk factor in this cases. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its association with glycemic control, insulin therapy, nutritional therapy of carbohydrate counting, body mass index and physical activity level in children, adolescents and adults with Type 1 diabetes. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 87 children, adolescents and adults with Type 1 Diabetes assisted in a public hospital in Brazil. The variables studied were: age, sex, education level, blood lipid levels, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, body mass index, physical activity level, insulin therapy, and the nutrition therapy of carbohydrate counting. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed in their distribution, frequency, and association with the Person’s exct chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test (p<0,05). Results: The patients of the study were mostly adults (54%), females (64%) and, 40% concluded high school. The predominant insulin therapy was based in multiple daily injections with basal and rapid-acting analogs of insulin. The minority followed the nutrition therapy of carbohydrate counting. The prevalence of elevated glycated hemoglobin and fasting glucose was high (80,5% and 73,3%, respectively). Obesity was observed in 4,6% of adults. Regarding the blood lipid levels, hypercholesterolemia and low levels of HDL-c were observed in all age categories. Dyslipidemia was not associated with the variables of the study. Conclusion: There was observed dyslipidemia in all age categories of the patients of the study. Most of them were not following the nutrition therapy of carbohydrate counting and presented poor glycemic control. These two last caracteristics are modifiable and more educational activities should be developed to encourage self-care and prevent premature diabetes complications like cardiovascular diseases.