Dyslipidaemia and its management in patients with type 2 diabetes across the Middle East and Africa: the PACT-MEA study

Abstract Background There is a scarcity of high-quality epidemiological data on the clinical burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular risk (CV) in the Middle East and Africa due to under-representation of these regions in contemporary diabetes and cardiovascular trials. Multiple risk factors, including dyslipidaemia, increase CV risk in patients with T2D and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (eASCVD) and those at risk for ASCVD. According to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2021 Guidelines, target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for patients with T2D is <1.8 mmol/L (<1.4 mmol/L in patients with eASCVD or at very high risk). Purpose To establish the status of dyslipidaemia and its management in patients with T2D and eASCVD or high/very high ASCVD risk across the Middle East and Africa. Methods Adult patients with T2D participating in a cross-sectional, observational study in seven Middle East and African countries were included in the analysis. Laboratory and medication data were collected from medical charts of patients attending a routine health visit in 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the lipid profile and management of patients with T2D by age, diabetes duration, body mass index, HbA1c, microvascular complications, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR). Results There were 3726 patients in the overall study sample (mean age, 58 ± 12; male, 53%), almost all of whom were at high (69%)/very high (30%, includes eASCVD) risk according to ESC 2021 guidelines. In patients for whom data was available in the medical record, median LDL-C (n=2525) was 2.2 mmol/L (IQR, 1.7 to 3.0), HDL-C (n=2453) was 1.1 mmol/L (IQR, 0.9 to 1.3), and triglycerides (n=2488) were 1.6 mmol/L (IQR, 1.2 to 2.3). Of the patients with high/very high ASCVD risk (n=2313), 30% met the ESC guideline-recommended target for LDL-C of <1.8 mmol/L and 16% met the target of <1.4mmol/L. Most patients were on statin therapy (77%, range across countries: 60%-87%, Table 1), with use increasing with age and duration of diabetes. More patients with T2D for ≥10 years were on high intensity statin therapy than those with T2D <10 years (37% vs 33%). A similar pattern was observed for patients with HbA1c levels ≥7% (37% vs 31%, Table 2). Most patients with nephropathy were on statins (87%); use increased with lower eGFR and higher UACR levels. Very few patients were on Ezetimibe (6.4%), fibrates (4.8%), fish oil (including icosapent ethyl) (1.4%), or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors (0.5%). Conclusions Utilization of moderate intensity statin therapy (less than 50% LDL reduction) despite high and very high CV risk leads to failure to achieve cardioprotective LDL targets in most patients. Given the high burden of ASCVD in patients with T2D, prioritization of high intensity lipid lowering therapy is recommended.Table 1Table 2