Frequency of Dyslipidemia in Diabetic Patients at Tertiary Healthcare Unit (Saidu Group of Teaching hospitals – SGTH), Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has become a global health problem. Dyslipidemia is one of the widespread metabolic complications seen in T2DM and poses critical risk involved with increased morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. The abnormalities of lipid profiles include elevated triglycerides (TG), LDL, and total cholesterol (TC) and decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Despite these records worldwide, regional studies from under-resourced regions such as the northern region of Pakistan are few. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with T2DM at the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (SGTH), Swat, Pakistan. The secondary objectives include evaluating the association of dyslipidemia with demographic factors (age and gender), glycemic control (HbA1c levels), and the duration of diabetes. In this study, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 T2DM patients for six months. The data collection concerned demographic details, glycemic control (HbA1c), lipid profiles, and diabetes duration. The association of the variables of study with dyslipidemia was statistically explored using SPSS.Results: The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 51.7%. It was most prevalent among females at 65.8% and least prevalent among males at 42.7%. In patients with less satisfactory glycemic control, where HbA1c was between 8.1% and 9.5%, the prevalence was significantly higher at 70.2%. In this study, there was no significant association found for diabetes duration and dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Dyslipidemia among T2DM patients is a crucial comorbidity in Swat, more common in females and those with a poor glycemic control profile. This condition warrants regular screening of lipid abnormalities, lifestyle interventions associated with the possibility of better access to health care facilities to prevent cardiovascular risk in such a susceptible population. Crafting specific national guidelines for managing dyslipidemia in diabetics is well bound towards the standardization of care and prevention of its long-term implications.