Dyslipidaemia among Nigerian Oil Workers with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Nigerians working in the oil industry appear to maintain a ‘westernised’ lifestyle and thus may be at increased risk for diabetes mellitus and related disorders. There are several reports on lipid profile in type 2 DM among Nigerians (non-oil workers) in the general population from different parts of the country. However the lipid profile of Nigerian oil workers with type 2 DM has not been previously reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine the serum lipid profile of Nigerian oil workers with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Hospital records of Nigerian oil workers with type 2 diabetes mellitus were retrieved for the study. Data extracted included the patient’s age, sex, weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure and fasting lipid profile. Hospital staff without DM served as controls. RESULTS: There were 52 Nigerians with type 2 DM and 99 controls. Serum triglyceride levels were significantly higher in diabetics than in controls (1.91±1.10 vs 1.27 ± 0.58mmol/l, p<0.001). The other lipid fractions were comparable in both diabetics and non-diabetics. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol abnormality was found in 32.7% of diabetic subjects. Serum total cholesterol dyslipidaemia, triglyceride dsylipidaemia and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol dyslipidaemia were found in 26.9%, 19.2% and 9.6% of the diabetic subjects respectively. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidaemia in Nigerian oil workers with T2DM is common and consists mainly of hypertriglycendaemic and low HDL cholesterol. Measures should be instituted to reduce the lipid levels in these patients in order to minimize the risk of cardiovascular events.