Fenofibrate effects on carotid artery intima-media thickness in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A FIELD substudy

Aim: Dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes contributes to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Fenofibrate, a lipid-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) agonist, has been shown to reduce vascular complications in adults with type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms for such benefit, however, are not yet well understood. We examined the effects of fenofibrate on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In a prospectively designed substudy of the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study, we assessed carotid IMT in a subset of 422 representative adults. Traditional risk factors and IMT were assessed at 2 and 4 years after randomisation to fenofibrate (200 mg daily) or placebo. The prespecified primary study endpoint was the difference in IMT between treatment groups at 4 years. Post-hoc analyses were performed according to dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome status.

Results: There was no difference in carotid IMT comparing those assigned to fenofibrate or placebo at 2 or 4 years, despite statistically significant improvement in lipid and lipoprotein parameters at 2 and 4 years, including TC, LDL-C and TG, and HDL-C at 4 months and 2 years. Similarly, there was no difference in carotid IMT on fenofibrate compared with placebo in those with dyslipidemia or metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions: Fenofibrate was not associated with improved carotid IMT in adults with type 2 diabetes when compared with placebo, despite a statistically significant improvement in TC, LDL-C and TG at 2 and 4 years, and HDL-C at 4 months and 2 years.