Lipid Profile in Uncomplicated Non-Diabetic Hypertensives

Background- Many risk factors have been reported to be higher among hypertensive than normotensive subjects. This study was an effort to determine the prevalence and types of dyslipidemia among the hypertensive population. Methods- This case-control study was performed on 1500 participants over 30 years of age between 1998 and 2001. The case group consisted of uncomplicated non-diabetic hypertensive patients, and the control group was composed of normotensive individuals. First a questionnaire containing demographic details, drug intake and smoking status was completed. Then physical examination, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) and body mass index (BMI), was performed. Fasting blood sample was drawn for sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C). Data were analysed in SPSS V11 /Win by using t-test and Chi-square test. Results- Mean age in the case and control groups was 51.03 +/- 18.7 and 50.84 +/- 19.3, respectively. TC and LDL-C levels were higher in the hypertensive population, and this just reached statistical significance. There were no significant differences in HDL-C and TG levels. LDL-C was also significantly higher in the female hypertensives as compared to the males and also in comparison with the controls. TG and HDL-C levels were not significantly different in either sex in the two groups. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was more than 75 percent in the case and nearly 70 percent in the control group. Hypercholesterolemia and high LDL-C were more prevalent in the case compared to the control group. Conclusion- These results indicate that hypercholesterolemia and high LDL-C are the more common variety of dyslipidemia in uncomplicated hypertension and that we must consider primary and secondary prevention with life style modification and drug therapy in hypertensive patients