PREVALENCE OF DYSLIPIDEMIA IN HYPERTENSIVE AND DIABETIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN PAKISTAN

Background: Hypertension and diabetes play a significant role in developing cardiovascular disorders. Meanwhile, dyslipidemia also plays a central role in the progression of atherosclerotic disease. The study aims to assess the association of dyslipidemia in diabetic and hypertensive patients, as this population is at a higher risk of ischaemic heart diseases.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pathology department of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Using the WHO calculator, a sample size of 130 (CI 8.6) was calculated. All the participants were above 18 years of age. The patients with a previous history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or type 1 diabetes, with fasting blood sugar of less than 126mg/dl and who did not give consent were excluded from the study. Fasting lipid profiles of all the participants were carried out. The study outcome was measured in terms of percentages of diabetic and hypertensive patients having dyslipidemia.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.8 + 7.6 years. Of 130 cases, 52.3% of participants had diabetes, whereas 47.7% had hypertension. Dyslipidemia was found in 73.1% of diabetic and 66.12% of hypertensive patients, and this association was significant (p-value <0.001)

Conclusion: Dyslipidemia is directly associated with diabetes and hypertension. Thus strict monitoring of diabetic and hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia should be done to avoid developing cardiovascular disorders.

Keywords: Dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertensive patients' prevalence, Pakistan