PLASMA LIPID PROFILES IN NIGERIANS WITH NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE, HYPERTENSION AND OTHER ACQUIRED CARDIAC CONDITIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: The attention of researchers has recently been drawn to the changing lipid pattern in
the Nigerian African because of diet and changing lifestyles. With increasing awareness of systemic
hypertension and the role of cholesterol in ischaemic heart disease, indiscriminate emphasis has
been placed on the reduction of fat intake and total calorie intake in every patient who has any
form of heart disease.
Objective: To assess and demonstrate any association between abnormal lipid profile and some
acquired cardiovascular diseases, which confer relevance of dietary cholesterol restriction.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Setting: Cardiology clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Subjects: One hundred and twenty two patients (59 males and 63 females) who attended the
cardiology clinic in the month of May 2001.
Results: The results revealed significant hyperlipidaemia in three groups of Nigerian patients with
acquired heart disease: the hypertensive with or without hypertensive heart disease (HHDx), the
patient with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) had lower cholesterol levels
than the normotensives.
Concusion: This study has demonstrated that not all acquired cardiovascular diseases are associated
with hyperlipidaemia. Intervention studies may therefore be needed to examine the benefits or
adverse effects of dietary restriction in such conditions.