Traditional lipid profile and underdiagnosis of chronic complications in diabetic population in Nigeria

Background: Traditional lipid profile is widely used in cardiovascular risk assessment in most of the health care centers despite the shortfall in its sensitivity to cardiovascular disease risk and clinical disease which had led to efforts to improve its sensitivity and specificity via the use of several lipid ratios to improve its diagnostic value. Therefore, this study evaluated the diagnostic relevance of traditional lipid profile, lipid ratios versus apolipoproteins in assessment of cardiovascular complications in Nigerian diabetic population. Aim: Evaluation of the diagnostic relevance of traditional lipid profile and lipid ratio versus Apolipoproteins in assessment of cardiovascular complications. Methods: 102 type 2 diabetic mellitus (DM) subjects (66 females and 36 males) and 100 control subjects of same age range (40-80 years) were recruited for this study which were further classified into nil apparent cardiovascular complication (63 subjects) and apparent cardiovascular complication (39 subjects) including peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, cataract, stroke, foot ulcer, sexual dysfunction, glaucoma and ischemic heart disease. Lipid profile, Apo A and B analyzed with standard methods. Result: Apo-A1 is significantly more sensitive than other components of lipid profile and artherogenic indices in the subjects studied in diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion: Apo -A1 may be more sensitive than other components of lipid profile and artherogenic indices in screening for chronic complications of diabetes mellitus therefore may serve as a better surrogate marker of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus.