Effects of falciparum malaria on levels of selected biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic controls

Abstract

Falciparum malaria and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affect millions of people globally but the effect of the dual conditions on the cardiovascular health of the affected has not been investigated. To better understand this, a study was designed to evaluate the effect of Plasmodium falciparum malaria on levels of selected biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in diabetics compared with non-diabetic controls by measuring anthropometric indices, blood pressure (Bp), fasting levels of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, lipid profile, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein, total antioxidants power (TAP) and lipid peroxides of 200 diabetics and non-diabetic controls before and during P. falciparum malaria. Insulin resistance and β-cell secretory function were assessed. Associations among the various parameters were investigated. At baseline, the two groups differed significantly (P < 0.05) in some of the anthropometric indices and levels of most biomarkers except insulin and TAP. Some of the parameters associated linearly in the two study groups with gender-specific variations. During malaria, levels of anthropometric indices and Bp did not change in the defined study groups. In diabetics, apart from TAP that decreased significantly (P < 0.05), the levels of all the other biomarkers increased. Non-diabetic controls had decreased (P < 0.05) TAP and leptin levels but elevated levels in the others. Anthropometric indices did not associate (P > 0.05) with the levels of measured biomarkers in malaria. Falciparum malaria increased the CVD risk of respondents in the two study groups. However, the two groups differed in their response to malaria.