Prevalence of dyslipidemia among persons with type 2 diabetes in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Dyslipidemia is an established cardiovascular risk factor in persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet the extent to which these conditions co-occur in Africa is unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia among persons with T2D in Africa. Methods: Medline, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on 5 December 2023. This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was prospectively registered on PROSPERO. The prevalence data for dyslipidemia was pooled through a random-effects meta-analysis. The authors assessed heterogeneity and publication bias using I 2 statistics and Egger’s test, respectively. Results: Our search identified 8035 records, of which 60 articles involving 20 034 individuals with T2D were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of dyslipidemia recorded 38.6% (95% CI: 34.1–43.4) for high TC (≥ 5.2 mmol/l), 52.7% (95% CI: 44.2–61.1) for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (≥ 2.6 mmol/l), 43.5% (95% CI: 37.1–50.0) for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (< 1.0 mmol/l in men and less than 1.3 mmol/l in women), and 37.4% (95% CI: 32.2–42.9) for high triglycerides (TG) (≥ 1.7 mmol/l). Subgroup analysis based on gender indicated a notably higher prevalence of dyslipidemia among females compared to males. Conclusion: Dyslipidemia is prevalent among persons with T2D in Africa. This highlights the need for early screening, diagnosis, and management of dyslipidemia to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular complications in this population.