Low Cholesterol Target Achievement in Indonesian Diabetes Patients Highlighted

Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia has raised concerns about the low achievement of cholesterol targets, specifically low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), among type 2 diabetes patients in Indonesia who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. A study in Indonesia revealed that only 4.9 percent of high-risk patients successfully reached the target LDL-C level of below 55 mg/dL.

This critical issue was addressed during a scientific symposium titled "Comprehensive Lipid Management in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes." The event, organized by Daewoong as part of the 14th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Indonesian Endocrinology Association (PIT PERKENI) in Bandung on June 27, 2026, gathered approximately 500 healthcare professionals. These included endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, residents, and researchers.

Speakers at the symposium underscored the importance of lipid management as an integral part of treating type 2 diabetes, particularly for patients facing a high risk of cardiovascular complications. One discussed approach involved combination therapy using ezetimibe and rosuvastatin, which works by suppressing cholesterol production in the liver while simultaneously inhibiting its absorption in the intestines.

Dislipidemia, a common condition among type 2 diabetes patients, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It refers to an imbalance of fat levels, including cholesterol and triglycerides, in the blood. Therefore, managing diabetes requires not only controlling blood sugar but also effectively managing LDL-C levels. Cardiovascular diseases caused 765,660 deaths in Indonesia in 2021, according to the World Heart Federation. A 2025 multisenter registry study published in the Indonesian Journal of Cardiology indicated that only 4.9 percent of Indonesian patients with high and very high cardiovascular risk achieved an LDL-C below 55 mg/dL, with another 21.2 percent reaching below 70 mg/dL. Another 2025 study in the Surabaya Journal of Current Internal Medicine Research and Practice found dislipidemia in 74 percent of 100 type 2 diabetes patients studied, rising to 85 percent among those with coronary artery disease.