Lipid profile in an apparently healthy Nigerian population

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is a growing concern globally.
• Lipid profile abnormalities are key indicators of CVD risk.
• Assessing lipid profiles in occupational settings can inform targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the lipid profile patterns among staff at a Nigerian tertiary institution.
• To evaluate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated risk factors for CVD.
• To provide data for public health strategies within the institution.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 193 staff members.
• Data collection included demographic information, medical history, anthropometric measurements (BMI), and blood pressure.
• Fasting plasma lipid profiles (Total Cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, Triglycerides) were analyzed using standard assays.

Main Results:

• Mean lipid levels were: TC 4.04, HDL-C 1.63, LDL-C 1.98, TG 0.92 mmol/L; Mean BMI was 25.98 kg/m2.
• 24.3% had low HDL-C, 10.4% had high LDL-C, and 7.3% had high Triglycerides.
• Abnormalities were more common in participants aged 40+; age correlated positively with TC and LDL-C.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of staff presented with dyslipidemia, most commonly low HDL-C.
• Overweight (32.1%) and obesity (23.3%) were prevalent, with significant gender differences in TG and BMI.
• Findings highlight the need for increased awareness and regular lipid profile screening in this population to mitigate CVD risk.