Lipid abnormalities in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: The coexistence of hypertension with other risk factors including dyslipidemia is well known. The pattern of dyslipidemia in
Indians is different from that seen in the Western population. There is limited data from India on dyslipidemia in patients with newly diagnosed
hypertension. Objective: To examine the serum lipid patterns and analyse the prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients newly diagnosed
hypertension. Methods and Material: Patients who had been newly diagnosed with hypertension were studied. Those with the past history of
dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or any other systemic illness were excluded. A sample size of
476 patients with a mean age of 53.81±13.74 years and male, 71% and female 29% were considered in the study. Lipids including, total
cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were measured for all patients and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL) was calculated by Friedwald’s equation. Results: Out of the 476 patients, 75 patients (15.7%) had a normal lipid profile. Low
HDL (n=281, 59.0%) was the most common abnormality followed by elevated TG (n=175, 36.9%), elevated LDL (n=117, 24.5%) and elevated
TC (n=112, 23.7%). Among isolated lipid abnormalities, isolated low HDL was most commonly seen in 45.4% patients. A greater percentage
(n=213, 56.64%) of males with waist circumference above 90 cm had elevated LDL as compared to males with waist circumference below 90 cm
(p=0.01). Apart from higher TG levels, all the other parameters remained same in younger patients (age<55 years) and in elders who were more
than 55 years. Conclusions: Our study found a high prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with hypertension with low HDL being the dominant
abnormality. Considering that these lipid abnormalities were present in both young and old patients, a careful evaluation of the hypertensive
patient to uncover dyslipidemia is warranted.