Dyslipidemia is a pervasive risk factor in diabetes, requiring aggressive intervention to mitigate cardiovascular risk. These flashcards are designed to help pharmacists and healthcare professionals memorize the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines regarding statin initiation, specific cholesterol targets, and the management of refractory cases or severe hypertriglyceridemia.
Key Topics Covered:
Therapeutic Targets: Memorizing the primary goal of LDL-C consistently <2.0 mmol/L (or >50% reduction) and alternative targets like Non-HDL-C <2.6 mmol/L.
Statin Indications: Identifying the criteria for initiating statin therapy, such as age 40, diabetes duration >15 years, or the presence of microvascular complications.
Intensification: Reviewing the steps for intensifying therapy with ezetimibe or PCSK9 inhibitors when statin monotherapy fails to reach targets.
Hypertriglyceridemia: Understanding the specific indication for fibrates—primarily to prevent pancreatitis in patients with triglycerides >10.0 mmol/L—rather than for routine cardiovascular prevention.
Screening Protocols: Recalling the recommended frequency for lipid profile screening at diagnosis and during treatment follow-up.