Plasma Lipid Profile of Moderate and Severe Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Hypertension is the most prevalent and treatable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Elevated levels of lipid in the blood also known as hyperlipideamia or dyslipidemia have been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and most cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. This study was designed to evaluate the plasma level of lipid profile in mild and severe hypertensive patients with a view to provide information on the link between these parameters and the development and severity of hypertension. Blood samples were collected from 120 freshly diagnosed hypertensive patients consisting of 60 mild and 60 severe hypertensive patients at Wesley Guide Hospital of Obafemi Awolowo University teaching Hospital Ilesa Osun state and 60 relatively healthy subjects as control. Plasma level of lipid profile [namely High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC)] in the blood sample of both patients and control subjects were analyzed using standard methods. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis (p<0.05).The results of lipid profile in mild and severe hypertensive patients was compared to the control subjects. The results in mild hypertensive patients were also compared with the severe ones. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the plasma level of TC and LDLc in both mild and severe hypertensive patients when compared with the control subjects. Similarly a significant increase (p<0.05) was recorded in the plasma level of the both TC and LDLc in severe hypertensive patients when compared with mild hypertensive patients. However, the plasma level of HDLc in moderate and severe hypertensive patients was slightly lowered but not significant (p<0.05) while plasma TG level was not significantly different when compared with the control subjects. This study reveals a progressive increase in the plasma level of TC and LDLc from mild to severe hypertensive patients which could be a pointer to the fact that abnormalities in lipid metabolism might plays a significant role in the development and severity of hypertension.