Diabetes Lipidus - A persistent problem. Frequency and patterns of dyslipidemia among the diabetic adults of Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the frequency of dyslipidemia and its types in adult diabetics of Karachi. Study Design: Cross Sectional, Observational study. Setting: Diabetic Outpatient Clinic in JPMC, Karachi. Period: January 2019 to June 2019. Material & Methods: 248 adult diabetics presenting in diabetic outpatient clinic in JPMC, Karachi selected by non-purposive convenient sample technique. Diagnosed diabetics who were not on any lipid lowering therapy were included in the study. Non diabetics and those diabetics who are already on lipid lowering drugs were excluded. After relevant information is taken the lipid profile of the participants was done with a 12 hours fasting and the data was secured on a pre-designed performa. The results were analyzed on SPSS. Results: Among the 248 diabetics that presented 88(35.4%) were males and 160(64.5%) were females. The prevalence of dyslipidemia is 85.9% (213 diabetics had dyslipidemia). High triglycerides were present in 52.4% (130), high LDL in 28.2% (70) and low HDL in 175(70.6%). [P=0.000]. At least one dyslipidemic factor was deranged in 81(32.7%), two in 102(41.1%) and 3 in 30(12.1%) persons. In males, 53 out of 88(60.2%) were dyslipidemic, and in females all had dyslipidemia (100%). [P = 0.000]. Hypertriglyceridemia was present in 38(43.1%) males and 92(57.5%) females [P=.021], High LDL in 21(23.8%) males and 49(44%) females [P=.163], while low HDL was present in 16(22%) males and 159(99%) females [P=.000]. Conclusion: Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in our population. Female diabetic patients had relatively higher triglycerides than men.