Exploring Lipid Profile Abnormalities at First Clinical Visit in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. A Regional Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Dyslipidemia portends an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in developing various cardiovascular complications thus leading to increased morbidity, mortality and poor quality of life in this subset of patients. Dyslipidemia is a precursor to the development of atherosclerosis which is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. This study looks at the prevalence and pattern of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at their first clinic contact in a tertiary hospital setting.

Methodology: This is a retrospective study conducted in a medical outpatient endocrinology clinic of a tertiary referral health center (LASUTH), after approval was gotten from the Institution ethical committee. NO: LREC/06/10/1987. Cases within the period from November 2021 to June 2022 were studied. Data Analyses were performed using SPSS statistics version 23.0. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total number of 252 subjects attending the Endocrinology clinic were included in this study. The mean age was 56.7 ± 12.9 years with the youngest being 19 years and oldest being 90 years of age. Female to male ratio was 1.3:1. The mean TC was 181.0 ± 51.3mg/dl, mean of HDL-C was 48.6 ± 12.5mg/dl, mean of LDL-C was 121.5 ±41.8 and mean of TG 102.6 ± 41.9mg/dl. The mean HBA1C was 8.6 ± 2.3%, mean BMI was 27.9 ± 5.6 Kg/m2 and mean FBS was 173.6 ± 72.7mgdl. The pattern of lipid derangement was low HDL-C in 113(44.8%), high LDL-C 100 (39.7%), high TC 78(31.0%) and high TG 30 (11.9%). Prevalence of dyslipidemia was 72.6/%. The odds of having deranged HDL-C were 3. 87 (95% Cl: 2.170 – 6.902) times significantly higher in females. Odds of having deranged HDL-C were 3.0 (95% Cl: 1.641 – 5.528) times significantly higher in subjects who are obese.

Conclusion: Our study found high prevalence of lipid profile derangement in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, early screening, appropriate medical intervention and routine monitoring should form part of patient care to control the dyslipidemia and avoid cardiovascular complications.