Hypertriglyceridaemia is associated with an increased likelihood of albuminuria in extreme duration (> 50 years) Type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Aims: To explore the association between dyslipidaemia and albuminuria at the extreme of diabetes duration.

Methods: Data and samples were collected from 400 patients with extreme duration (> 50 years) of Type 1 diabetes in the UK (Golden Years Cohort). Urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), creatinine, non-fasting triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein- and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were analysed in all patients.

Results: Thirty-six percent of patients had albuminuria (micro- or macroalbuminuria). After adjusting for age, gender, HbA(1c), disease duration and presence of macrovascular disease, hypertriglyceridaemia was more likely to be associated with the presence of albuminuria.

Conclusions: High triglycerides may be a potential risk factor for progression of diabetic nephropathy at the extreme of diabetes duration, but the benefit of targeting this aggressively remains to be evaluated further.