The role of non-HDL cholesterol and atherogenic indices in predicting poor glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients in Basrah, Iraq

Background: Dyslipidaemia is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and it is the major contributor to cardiovascular diseases among type 2 diabetic patients. Despite the fact that several researches have proven the association between glycemic control and dylipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients, the results are rather varied. Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the clinical relevance of lipid profile as predictive biochemical model for glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 329 type 2 diabetic patients was done in Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital, Basrah, Iraq. Brief history, clinical examination, and investigations including fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, and glycosylated hemoglobin were done. HbA1c >7% was considered as poor glycemic control. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between lipid profile and HbA1c level. Results: Out of 329 diabetic patients, 278 (84.5%) showed poor glycemic control. The univariate analysis showed a significant association between lipid parameters and poor glycemic control. ROC and logistic regression analyses found that TC/HDL (OR: 4.94; 95% CI: 2.35–10.41; P < 0.001) and LDL/HDL (OR: 4.63; 95% CI: 1.96–10.98; P < 0.001) were the only significant independent predictors of glycemic control, while non-HDL cholesterol was a weak predictor of glycemic control despite its significant association (P = 0.02). Conclusion: LDL/HDL and TC/HDL ratios reveal promising indicators for predicting glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.