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.