Cardio-Metabolic Risk Profile of a Diabetic Population in the Ho Municipality

Background: This study aimed to determine the burden of cardio-metabolic risk factors among type 2 diabetes clients undergoing clinical management at the Ho Municipal Hospital in the Volta Region of Ghana.

Methodology: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among sixty-two (62) individuals presenting with type 2 diabetes at the Diabetic Clinic from November 2017 to February 2018. The participants aged between 20-60 years were purposively recruited. Demographic data was captured using a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric, haemodynamic and other laboratory variables were obtained using standard methods.

Results: The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was 16.1% and 51.6% respectively. About 33.8% of respondents were overweight and 17.7% obese. Raised Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and low High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were 69.4%, 35.5%, 72.6%, 3.2%, and 17.7% respectively. Obesity was higher among the females (24.3%) compared to their male counterparts (8.0%). There was a significant association of waist circumference (central adiposity) with systolic blood pressure and atherogenic lipid parameters among study participants.

Conclusion: The burden of cardio-metabolic risk factors is high among type 2 diabetes individuals at the Ho Municipal Hospital. Overweight, prehypertension and raised LDL-C were the predominant risk factors. The cardio-metabolic dysregulation may be mediated by adiposity and dyslipidaemia. We recommend that individuals with high risk profiles are identified for rigorous management to delay or prevent any fatal outcome.