Lipids and lipoproteins were measured in 139 men and 145 women who were noninsulin-dependent diabetics (NIDDs) aged 45 to 64 years. Of these, 27 men and 16 women had had a previous definite myocardial infarction (Ml). The NIDDs with Ml (Ml+ ) showed lower values of HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol concentrations than NIDDs without previous Ml (Ml-) or NIDDS without any symptoms or electrocardiographic signs of coronary heart disease (CHD-). The inverse relationship between HDL, HDL 2 , and CHD was evident in both sexes, but it was particularly strong among male NIDDs. The difference in HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol concentrations between the MI + and Ml -groups or between the Ml + and CHD -groups persisted after adjustment by analysis of covariance for the effect of physical activity, alcohol intake, obesity, duration of diabetes, and glycemic control. It is concluded that in a cross-sectional study, even among NIDDs with generally low HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol concentrations, the presence of CHD is associated with a further depression of HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol levels. Prospective studies are needed, however, to confirm that the association is predictive and not a consequence of CHD. (Arteriosclerosis 5:653-658, November/December 1985) L ow concentration of serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been shown to be strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in nondiabetic populations. 1 " 6 Among diabetics, patients with noninsulindependent diabetes (NIDDs) have a lower level of HDL cholesterol than corresponding nondiabetic control subjects. 7 At present, it is unclear whether the presence of CHD is associated with a further lowering of HDL cholesterol in this diabetic population which has a generally low level of HDL cholesterol. Therefore, our study compared lipid and lipoprotein levels in NIDDs with and without CHD.
Methods
PatientsAll diabetic patients in Finland needing drug therapy are provided with it free of charge accord- Received March 6, 1985; revision accepted June 26, 1985. ing to the Sickness Insurance Act. The Social Insurance Institution maintains a central register of diabetics who receive drug reimbursement. On the basis of this register, we identified 791 diabetic patients aged 45 to 64 years who had been diagnosed as diabetic after the age of 30 years and who lived near Kuopio University Central Hospital, East Finland. The main purpose was to obtain a population for a study that would compare the prevalence of CHD and its risk factors in middleaged NIDDs living in East and West Finland. 8 Among the total population of 791 diabetics, we selected 284 persons (139 men, 145 women) for the present study. The criteria were as follows:1. Diet-treated diabetics. There were 104 eligible diabetics (57 men, 47 women) of whom 88 participated (48 men, 40 women; participation rate, 85%). These patients' diabetes medication had been stopped at least 3 months before the study.2. Diabetics treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs. A random sample of 173 diabetics (90 me...