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Statins do not increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in familial hypercholesterolemia: The SAFEHEART study

Francisco Fuentes1, Juan F Alcala-Diaz1, Gerald F Watts2

  • 1IMIBIC/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía/Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Córdoba, Spain.

International Journal of Cardiology
|August 22, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, statin use in FH patients did not show a significant diabetogenic effect in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic disorder leading to premature coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Understanding the risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in FH patients is crucial for managing cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence of new-onset T2DM in FH patients and their unaffected relatives.
  • To examine the association between statin treatment and T2DM risk within the SAFEHEART cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 2558 FH patients and 1265 relatives, with a mean follow-up of 5.9 years.
  • Data collected included demographics, metabolic syndrome, lipid profile, BMI, HOMA-IR, and statin details.
  • Multivariate logistic and Cox regression models were used to identify predictors of incident T2DM.

Main Results:

  • New-onset T2DM occurred in 1.7% of FH patients versus 0.2% of non-FH individuals (p=0.001).
  • Significant predictors of T2DM in FH patients included age, HOMA-IR, and metabolic syndrome.
  • In the FH group, age and metabolic syndrome remained significant predictors in the adjusted Cox model.

Conclusions:

  • The study found a higher incidence of T2DM in FH patients compared to controls.
  • Age and metabolic syndrome are key predictors of T2DM development in FH patients.
  • The data do not support a diabetogenic effect of high-dose statin use in this FH cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
Familial hypercholesterolemiaStatinsType 2 diabetes

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