Serum lipid profile of Nigerian diabetics with end stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND

End stage renal disease (ESRD) and diabetes mellitus may have lipid abnormalities that act synergistically to place diabetics with ESRD at an augmented risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We studied serum lipid profile and risk ratio in Nigerian diabetics with ESRD as there is no data in this regard.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Serum lipid profile was determined in the fasting state for consecutive diabetic patients with ESRD seen in the Nephrology Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital over a 2- year period. A similar group of non- diabetic patients with ESRD and healthy individuals served as controls.

RESULTS

A total of 21 diabetics and 30 non- diabetics both with ESRD and 36 controls were studied. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were lower in diabetics compared to controls (1.55 +/- 1.14 mmol/L vs. 2.38 +/- 0.57 mmol/L, p < 0.05) but similar to that of the non- diabetic group. On the contrary, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were higher in diabetics compared to controls (2.87 +/- 2.07 mmol/L vs. 1.44 + 0.52 mmol/L, p < 0.05). Serum Triglyceride and total Cholesterol levels were similar in all study groups. The LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio was higher in diabetics compared to non- diabetics and controls (3.65 +/- 3.97, 2.08 +/- 1.72, 0.61 +/- 0.30 respectively, p < 0.0001; multiple comparison p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Cardiovascular risk as imposed by lipid abnormalities is elevated in Nigerian diabetic persons with ESRD compared to their non- diabetic counterparts as reported elsewhere.