LIPID PROFILE AND ATHEROGENIC INDICES AMONG NIGERIAN DIABETIC AND HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Cardiovascular endpoints in diabetes and/or hypertension is directly associated with dyslipidaemia. Hence this study which examined the lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL) and atherogenic indices (cardiac risk ratio-CRR and atherogenic index of plasma-AIP) among two hundred and four (204) non obese individuals subdivided into four groups. These include: Group A {51 Non Obese Diabetic (NOD)}, Group B {53 Non Obese Hypertensive (NOH)}, Group C {40 Non Obese Diabetic/Hypertensive (NODH)} and Group D {60 Non Obese Non Diabetic/Hypertensive (normal control)}.

Using standard procedures, weight, height, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were measured and used to classified patients and serum lipid profile and atherogenic indices were determined.

Results showed that TC was higher in hypertensive condition (5.95±1.73 mmol/l) than diabetic condition (5.54±1.64 mmol/l) and highest in co-existence (6.03±1.56 mmol/l) although this relationship was not significant. TG was observed to be lower in diabetic (0.96±0.51mmol/l) and hypertensive (0.57±0.54 mmol/l) condition compared with the control (1.30±1.27 mmol/l) and this was significant (p=0.05) only with hypertensive group. Although not significantly different, HDL-c was higher in control group (1.23±0.69 mmol/l) compared with diabetic (1.10±0.84 mmol/l) and hypertensive (1.18±1.01 mmol/l) groups or where both co-exist (1.15±0.91 mmol/l). HDL-c was more lowered in diabetic group compared to hypertensive group. LDL-c was lower in the control group (3.24±1.51 mmol/l) compared with the diabetic (3.99±1.78 mmol/l) and hypertensive groups (3.66±1.80 mmol/l) or where both co-exist (4.43±1.84 mmol/l) and this was significant (p=0.05) with the diabetic group and diabetic and hypertensive co-existence groups. The co-existence of diabetes and hypertension (7.44±0.64 mmol/l) and diabetic alone (7.11±0.54 mmol/l) resulted in significantly higher CRR levels; hypertension alone (4.75±0.47 mmol/l) resulted in significantly lower CRR compared with the control (5.75±0.50 mmol/l). AIP levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive only group (0.66±0.10 mmol/l) compared with the control (0.15±0.08 mmol/l).

Conclusively, the findings of the study showed that in the non obese individuals, co-existence of diabetes and hypertension and diabetic complications only have increased propensity to develop dyslipidaemia and its associated complications compared with hypertensive only complication.