Abstract:
Purpose: To ascertain the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in
diabetics in Cape Coast.
Methods: This preliminary outpatient-based cross-sectional
study was conducted in 79 diabetic patients (22 males and 57
females) receiving treatment at the Central Regional Hospital
(CRH) in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Serum lipid profiles of
the fasting diabetic patients were determined between
September, 2008 and May, 2009. In addition, demographic
information, height and weight were measured and BMI was
computed.
Results: BMI was significantly (P = 0.001) higher in females
than in males, but the mean values of all the remaining
measured parameters were comparable (P>0.05) between the
sexes. No significant (P>0.05) correlation was observed
between age or BMI and cholesterol levels. Percentage
dyslipidaemia ranged from 7.60% to 55.70% in the study
sample. A significantly (P<0.05) higher proportion of females
than males in the entire sample were overweight/obese, had
higher levels of total cholesterol (TCHOL) and TRG. No
significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between
proportions of individuals in both sexes who exhibited higher
LDL-c but lower levels of HDL-c..
Conclusion: Lipid profile should be a routine test for all
diabetics receiving treatment at the CRH to identify those at
increased cardiovascular risk for immediate attention.
