Correlation of blood glucose with lipid profile levels as risks for cardiovascular disease among diabetic patients at Ruhengeri referral hospital

Abstract

Dyslipidemia remains the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity among diabetic patients. The study was conducted to describe the correlation of blood glucose and lipid profile levels as risks for cardiovascular disease among diabetic patients at Ruhengeri referral hospital. It was a cross-sectional study. A total of 103 diabetic patients were recruited. The blood glucose and lipid profile levels were tested, and the cardiovascular risks were observed. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. 78.4% of diabetic patients have dyslipidemia characterized by high LDL-C, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C. There was a statistical significance association with BMI and TC (χ2= 21.611; p=0.000), TG (χ2 = 14.311; p = 0.000), and LDL-C (χ2 = 6.367; p = 0.012). A positive significant correlation was observed between blood glucose and TG and BMI and TC levels (r = 0.420; p = 0.001; (r =0.663; p = 0.001) respectively. Gender was statistically significant to have an effect to low Framingham risk score (χ2 = 13.359; df = 6; p = 0.038). The study shows a high prevalence of dyslipidemia. TC and LDL-C are significantly increased in diabetic patients with high BMI. Co-morbidity of diabetes and dyslipidemia remains a statistically significant predictor of cardiovascular risk. Therefore, regular monitoring of lipid profile in diabetic patients would prevent incremental risk for CVD.