The pattern of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with elevated levels of non-HDL-cholesterol among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Ho municipality: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidaemia is a key comorbid condition of type 2 diabetes mellitus that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study describes the pattern of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with elevated levels of non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ho. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 210 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from Ho municipality. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and other relevant parameters. Anthropometric, haemodynamic, and biochemical variables were obtained using standard methods. Dyslipidaemia was defined according to the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria while elevated levels of non-HDL-C was defined as non-HDL-C level ≥3.37 mmol/L. A Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with elevated non-HDL-C levels. RESULTS: Overall, dyslipidaemia and elevated levels of non-HDL-C prevalence was 67.1% and 64.3%, respectively. The frequency of atherogenic, isolated, and mixed dyslipidaemias were 10.5%, 58.09% and 53.33 %, respectively. Females were four times more likely to develop elevated levels of non-HDL-C after adjustment for age (AOR: 4.07; CI: 2.20–7.51; p < 0.0001). Likewise, overweight (AOR: 3.1; CI: 1.45–6.61; p = 0.0035), grade 1 obesity (AOR: 2.8; CI: 1.20–6.49; p = 0.0168), and truncal obesity (AOR: 3.09; CI: 1.54–6.19; p < 0.0001) were three times each more likely to develop elevated levels of non HDL-C after adjustment for age and gender. However, alcohol intake was 66% unlikely to develop elevated levels of non-HDL-C (COR: 0.34; CI: 0.16–0.73; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Dyslipidaemia and elevated levels of non-HDL-C were common in our study participants. Hypercholesterolaemia and co-occurrence of high TG and high LDL-C levels were the most prevalent isolated and mixed dyslipidaemias, respectively. The female gender, overweight, grade 1 obesity and truncal obesity, as well as alcohol intake were significant predictors of elevated levels of non-HDL-C.