Correlation of plasma fibrinogen and lipid profile in normotensive type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes with hypertension

Background & Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common metabolic disorder associated with several abnormalities like hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, obesity, which often may lead to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorders. Plasma fibrinogen as an independent cardiovascular risk factor and it is elevated in response to factors like BMI, diabetes, hypertension, serum lipoproteins. The present study has been undertaken to correlate plasma fibrinogen level with cardiovascular risk factors such as BMI, Hypertension, Hyperglycemia and dyslipidaemia, in normotensive as well as hypertensive diabetic patients. Methods: A case control study was done with 90 subjects divided into 3 groups (Group 1: healthy controls, Group 2: Normotensive Type 2 Diabetics and Group 3: Hypertensive Type 2 Diabetics) with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Plasma fibrinogen, Fasting and post prandial blood glucose along with fasting lipid profile were estimated. Blood pressure was recorded and BMI was calculated. Multiple comparisons were made using ANOVA test and correlated with Pearson’s correlation coefficient ‘r’. Results: Plasma fibrinogen, BMI were significantly elevated in Group 2 and highest in group 3. Mean ± SD in group 2 and 3 for lipoproteins were respectively, total cholesterol, (156.43± 50.29, 170.70 ± 47.43) HDL, (30.83±7.905, 25.13 ± 5.316) LDL (80.47 ± 22.14, 90.63 ± 31.60), VLDL (35.33 ± 7.336, 37.70 ± 7.484) TAG (136.63 ± 61.90, 146.26 ± 54.71). Plasma fibrinogen is positively correlated to total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides which is significant in normotensive diabetics and is positively correlated to BMI, SBP, DBP, TC, LDL, VLDL and TAG in hypertensive diabetic subjects which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Plasma fibrinogen is correlated significantly with lipoproteins levels and BMI in hypertensive diabetic patients so it can be considered as a risk factor for atherosclerotic events in such patients and it can be a potential marker for screening diabetic patients who are at risk of developing cardiovascular complications