The fasting serum triglyceride levels of elderly population with different progression stages of diabetes mellitus in China.

AIMS

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate triglyceride level among Chinese elderly population with different diabetic progressions and related factors of triglyceride.

METHODS

Study participants (≥65years) were recruited from a nationwide cross-sectional surveillance and were divided into four subgroups according to diabetic progression. Their information was obtained via questionnaire and physical examination. Their lipids in fasting serum samples were analyzed.

RESULTS

The serum triglyceride levels (mmol/L, mean±SD) were 1.3±0.8 (subgroup of no prediabetes and no DM), 1.5±1.0 (subgroup of prediabetes), 1.6±1.1 (subgroup of newly diagnosed DM) and 1.7±1.1 (subgroup of previously diagnosed DM), respectively. Only one female participant had a higher triglyceride than upper limit for prevention of acute pancreatitis (11.0mmol/L). However, 23.1% of participants and 34.8% of DM participants had higher triglyceride than upper limit for prevention of cardiovascular diseases (1.7mmol/L). Triglyceride level was positively correlated with diabetic progression (r=0.17, p<0.01). Age, gender, waist-to-height ratio (rather than BMI), systolic pressure, serum total cholesterol and HDL-C levels were statistically correlated with triglyceride level for total participants (R=0.39, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Aggravation of serum triglyceride level was related to diabetic progression in Chinese elderly population. Triglyceride control was unsatisfactory in Chinese elderly population, especially in elderly population with DM.