Plasma lipids pattern in hypertensives on treatment in Illorin, Nigeria

Hypertension, a major cause of CVD, is frequently associated with dyslipidaemia and overweight. These risk factors have sex differences that need local study. This work aims to evaluate the pattern of plasma lipids and BMI in male and female hypertensives. Fifty hypertensives attending the Cardiology Clinic of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, and fifty sex matched controls, were involved in the study. Conditions that can cause dyslipidaemia were ruled out in the subjects. Plasma TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and BMI were determined. Plasma TC (4.80mmol/L ± 2.27 vs. 3.20mmol/L), HDL-C (1.16mmol/L ± 0.37 vs. 0.93mmol/L ± 0.41), LDL-C (3.62mmol/L ± 1.30 vs. 2.28mmol/L ± 1.01) and BMI (27.20kg/m2 ± 6.57 vs. 23.37kg/m2 ± 4.75) were higher in hypertensives. Plasma TG (1.14mmol/L ± 0.71 vs. 0.83mmol/L ± 0.29) and HDL-C (1.22mmol/L ± 0.42 vs. 1.05mmol/L ± 0.25) were higher in female hypertensives than in male hypertensives. Management of hypertension in our environment should involve the screening and control of dyslipidaemia and overweight. It should recognize possible differences in the pattern of dyslipidaemia. The finding of higher LDL-C and lower HDL-C in male hypertensives, suggest that they are more likely to have poorer lipid pattern than females. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 49(1&2) 2006: 3-