Exploring gender-specific lipid profile patterns in metabolic syndrome: Implications for cardiovascular health in a rural Nigerian community
Author(s): Harmony Uchenna Ibezim, Helen K Njoya and John O Osarenkhoe
Abstract: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) presents a major public health concern, characterized by a combination of interconnected risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, elevated blood glucose levels, and dyslipidemia. This study aimed to evaluate gender-specific lipid profiles in patients diagnosed with MetS in a rural area, highlighting differences between male and female patients. Conducted at Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital in Edo State, Nigeria, the study involved 75 adult patients who met the World Health Organization’s criteria for MetS, selected from a larger pool of 6,400 screened individuals through simple random sampling. The lipid profiles of these patients were assessed using standard enzymatic assays to measure HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels. The findings revealed that dyslipidemia is prevalent among patients with MetS in this rural population. Specifically, 70.7% of patients had low plasma HDL-C levels, and 88% exhibited elevated LDL-C levels, despite LDL-C not being part of the WHO’s diagnostic criteria for MetS. Additionally, 69.4% of patients had hypertriglyceridemia, and 81.3% had elevated total cholesterol. Notable gender differences were observed, with 49.3% of patients with low HDL-C, 45.3% with hypertriglyceridemia, and 56% with hypercholesterolemia being female. Although these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05), the relationship between total cholesterol levels and gender was statistically significant (p<0.05), with higher levels in females compared to males. These results underscore dyslipidemia as the primary predictor of MetS in this population, with significant gender-based variations in lipid abnormalities. The high prevalence of these lipid disorders, especially among women, highlights the importance of gender-specific strategies for managing and preventing MetS and its associated cardiovascular risks in rural communities.
DOI: 10.22271/27069567.2024.v6.i3b.572Pages: 88-93 | Views: 128 | Downloads: 64Download Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Harmony Uchenna Ibezim, Helen K Njoya, John O Osarenkhoe.
Exploring gender-specific lipid profile patterns in metabolic syndrome: Implications for cardiovascular health in a rural Nigerian community. Int J Adv Res Med 2024;6(3):88-93. DOI:
10.22271/27069567.2024.v6.i3b.572