Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the effects of falciparum malaria on lipid profile and atherogenic
indices of type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic adults in the Central Region of Ghana.
Methods: Plasma lipid profile comprising total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) were
determined in 100 type 2 diabetics and 100 non-diabetic controls before and during
falciparum malaria using the BT3000 autoanalyzer in a prospective case control study design.
Atherogenic indices were computed. Results: At baseline, diabetics recorded significantly
(P < 0.05) lower level of LDL but higher levels of CHOL/LDL and TG/HDL ratios than controls.
LDL correlated (P < 0.05) positively but negatively with CHOL and HDL respectively in the
two study groups. During malaria, diabetics exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of CHOL
and TG but lower level of HDL. Non-diabetic controls had malaria-induced elevated level
in TG only. The positive correlation between LDL and CHOL was maintained in the two
study groups. The TG levels of diabetics correlated (P < 0.05) positively with LDL and
HDL during malaria. In the case of controls, a positive (P < 0.05) correlation was found
between LDL and HDL during falciparum malaria. Conclusion: Falciparum malaria modified
the associations among the various components of lipid profile and elevated TG levels of
diabetics and non-diabetic controls.
