Karen Hvid - Cross-academy PhD Scholarship 2024
Project summary:
Remnant cholesterol and residual risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in statin treated individuals with type 2 diabetes
Is elevated remnant cholesterol linked to heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes on cholesterol-lowering drugs?
Can it predict heart disease better than traditional cholesterol measures? Using the national Danish health registers and the Copenhagen General Population Study we will explore these questions about remnant cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
Project Title
Remnant cholesterol and residual risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in statin treated individuals with type 2 diabetes
Background
Women and men with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of developing heart disease, even when treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs. Remnant cholesterol, often elevated in these individuals, is not targeted by standard cholesterol-lowering treatments. Studies find that remnant cholesterol causes heart disease, and it may be a reason why individuals with type 2 diabetes still develop heart disease despite medication.
Aim
We aim to assess the impact of elevated remnant cholesterol on risk of heart disease among individuals with type 2 diabetes already using cholesterol-lowering treatment.
Methods/design
In our study we will use data from the national Danish health registers and from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Our research will involve parallel analyses in both study populations, applying epidemiological methods to understand the impact of remnant cholesterol.
Perspectives
Elevated remnant cholesterol is common among individuals with type 2 diabetes and may become a drug target for future prevention of heart disease. Therefore, it is important to increase our knowledge about the role of remnant cholesterol in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Karen Hvid
- MD
- University of Copenhagen
- Cross academy grant recipient: DCAcademy & Danish Diabetes and Endorine Academy
Main supervisor:
Børge G. Nordestgaard, Professor, chief physician, DMSc, MD, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte
Co-supervisors:
Alisa Devedzic Kjærgaard, Clinical researcher, MD, PhD, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus
Shoaib Afzal, Professor, Chief physician, DMSc, PhD, MD, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte
Martin B. Mortensen, Associate professor, adjunct associate professor, PhD, MD, Department: Dept. of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Mie Balling, Post-doc, PhD, MD, Dept. of Public Health, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte