DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2022.v08i10.013

Pages: 737-743

Background: The role of dyslipidemia as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is well established. There are few studies examining the prevalence of dyslipidemia among different ethnic groups. This review aims to analyze literature that has studied dyslipidemia and ethnicity. Should treatment guidelines reflect ethnicity? Method: Systemic narrative synthesis and data extraction was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were selected between January 2010 and January 2022 using PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar. The quality of the studies was assessed through Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Four relevant studies were retrieved from different countries. Asians, mainly Indians and Filipinos, have high triglycerides (TG) levels and low High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) levels which can partially explain the high incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in this group. Indians have high concentrations of small LDL particles, which are more atherogenic than large LDL particles (25). Asians are more sensitive to statin treatment, and lower doses can achieve the same therapeutic target as white Caucasian individuals. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) injectable therapies effectively lower cholesterol among all ethnic groups and may be a suitable alternative when statins are not tolerated. Conclusions - There are differences in dyslipidemia patterns among various ethnic groups compared to white Caucasians. South Asians have more atherogenic dyslipidemia than other ethnic minorities. Such differences might require tailored guidelines to address these ethnic differences.