Prevalence of Dyslipidemia among Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To identify the frequency of dyslipidemia in diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the patients visiting Pathology laboratory in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). After taking informed consent from the patients, a brief history was taken from the patients with the help of a questionnaire. Lipid profiles for these patients were analyzed using the same samples as of HbA1c to determine diabetic dyslipidemia. Results: A total number of 206 diabetic patients were inducted in this study. Out of the total sample, 179 (72.7%) respondents were on anti-diabetic therapy alone. About 31 (17.3%) were on antihypertensive therapy along with antidiabetic therapy. Only 36 (20.1%) patients were on lipid lowering medication along with anti-diabetic and antihypertensive treatment. Dyslipidemia was more common in patients that were only on anti-diabetic therapy. Conclusion: Annual screening for dyslipidemia and management were not practiced according to guidelines for diabetic patients. Combination therapy comprising anti-diabetic and anti-dyslipidemia medications should be considered by clinicians instead focusing only on diabetes.