Prevalence of dyslipidemia among adult diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy in Anambra state South-East Nigeria

Background: Dyslipidemia has been identified as a risk factor for the development and progression of diabetic renal disease.Objective: This study was done to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia among diabetic patients with overt nephropathy.Materials and Methods: A total of 72 diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy and 36 age- and sex-matched normoalbuminuric diabetic patients were studied. Their fasting lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, and renal function tests were evaluated.Results: Total serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were significantly higher in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy compared to the controls; 66.7% and 62.5% versus 36.1% and 30.6%, respectively (P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively).Conclusions: Diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy have significant dyslipidemia and aggressive lipid lowering in these patients may retard their progression to end-stage renal disease