Kamran Mahmood Ahmed Aziz
Dyslipidemia and hypertension alone predispose to the risk of coronary artery disease, especially if the patient is diabetic. This risk is increased and multiplied when both dyslipidemia and hypertension coexists. There is a lack of studies and significant data for the correlation or association of blood pressure with serum lipids. The studies conducted in the past showed the conflicting results with poor associations. Furthermore, these studies were not conducted on diabetic subjects and lack regression models or mathematical linear equations. Hence, we conducted a prospective, observational cohort study on 9340 diabetic subjects for the duration of 12 year (2005-2017), with the aim to find significant associations, correlations between serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C and Non-HDL-C) and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). Our data has demonstrated that total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C were significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic BP, and raised among hypertensive patients as compared to non-hypertensive ( p<0.001 for all lipids). The highest correlations were found between Non-HDL-C with systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r=0.414 and r=0.415, respectively with p<0.001). However, HDL-C was inversely correlated with systolic and diastolic BP and was raised among non-hypertensive patients. Regression models and mathematical linear equations were developed to estimate increasing blood pressure by the given serum lipid levels. All regression models were significant (p<0.0001). We concluded and developed regression models, for the first time in medical research that high lipid levels contribute to the development of increase systolic and diastolic blood pressures. With triglycerides, total-cholesterol, and HDL-C, Non-DHL-C levels should also be calculated in diabetology clinics and general practice. Screening should be done for diabetic patients to detect high blood pressure (or HTN) and elevated serum lipids, and early initiation of management to prevent diabetes complications.
