Efficacy of Lipid-Lowering Therapy during Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary Heart Disease

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) increases adherence to a healthy lifestyle and secondary preventive medication. A notable example of such medication is lipid-lowering therapy (LLT). LLT during CR improves quality life prognosis, thus particularly relevant for diabetes mellitus, which major risk factor CHD. Design: prospective, multicenter registry study from six centers Germany. Methods: During CR, 1100 minimum age 18 years CHD documented by angiography were included registry. Results: In 369 (33.9%), mellitus was diagnosed. Diabetic older (65.5 ± 9.0 vs. 62.2 10.9 years, p < 0.001) than nondiabetic more likely be obese (BMI: 30.2 5.2 kg/m2 27.8 4.2 kg/m2, 0.001). Analysis indicated that diabetic show LDL cholesterol levels below 55 mg/dL without at the start (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.9; 95% CI 1.3 2.9) until 3 months follow-up (OR 1.2 2.9). 12 follow-up, overall decreased within first remained lower level thereafter (p 0.001), irrespective prevalent diabetes. At end period, did not differ significantly between or = 0.413). Conclusion: Within after total reduced, mellitus. addition, responded faster LTT patients, suggesting benefit treatment CR.