To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: LDL Cholesterol Associated With Cancer in Patients With Diabetes URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/229F42.htm Doctor's Guide August 26, 2008
NEW YORK -- August 26, 2008 -- Low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as well as high levels, are associated with cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the August issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. "LDL cholesterol levels below 2.80 mmol/L and levels of at least 3.90 mmol/L were both associated with markedly elevated risk of cancer among patients who did not use statins," the authors wrote. Juliana Chan, MD, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, and colleagues examined the risk association between LDL cholesterol and cancer among 6,107 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. All patients were free of cancer at enrolment and statin use was known. However, the study excluded people on statins as statins obscured the association between LDL cholesterol and all-site cancer. During a median follow-up period of 4.90 years, cancer developed in 270 (4.4%) of the patients. Among the 3,800 patients who did not receive statin therapy, the risk association between, LDL cholesterol and cancer was represented by a V-shaped curve. Compared with patients whose LDL cholesterol was at least 2.80 mmol/L but less than 3.80 mmol/L, the risk of cancer or death from any cause, or the composite outcome of cancer or death, was greater among those with an LDL cholesterol level of less than 2.80 mmol/L (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-2.52) and those with an LDL cholesterol level of 3.80 mmol/L or greater (HR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.29-2.71). Regarding clinical implications, the authors suggest "the use of these levels as risk markers may help clinicians to assess their patients more fully and thus to prevent premature deaths in patients who have high risk." In a related commentary, Frank Hu, MD, PhD, and Eric Ding, ScD, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, said that confounding factors such as indication for the use of statins, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status must be considered when looking at the association of high levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of cancer. "Low serum cholesterol is commonly observed in individuals with ill health and those with unhealthy lifestyle characteristics such as smoking and heavy drinking," said Dr. Hu. SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association Journal --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.