Impact of Combined Hypertension and Diabetes on Dyslipidemia Prevalence Among Adults Aged 60 and Older: A retrospective study

Background and Aim: Dyslipidemia is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, particularly among older adults. Comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension may exacerbate lipid abnormalities, compounding cardiovascular risk. This study aims to assess the impact of these comorbidities on lipid profiles among adults aged 60 years and above using a cross-sectional approach. Method and Materials: A retrospective study was conducted on 579 participants aged 60 and above. Dyslipidemia was defined based on established lipid profile thresholds, including elevated total cholesterol (.>5.2 mmol/L), LDL-C (>3.4 mmol/L), triglycerides (≥1.7 mmol/L), or low HDL-C (<1.0 mmol/L in males and <1.3 mmol/L in females). Descriptive statistics were computed by gender to compare dyslipidemia prevalence and lipid profile characteristics. Results: The prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher among females (60.2%) compared to males (44.6%). Gender differences in lipid profiles were evident, with females having higher levels of total cholesterol (5.19 mmol/L vs. 4.67 mmol/L) and LDL cholesterol (3.18 mmol/L vs. 2.84 mmol/L), while males exhibited higher HDL cholesterol (1.69 mmol/L vs. 1.38 mmol/L) and lower triglyceride levels (1.23 mmol/L vs. 1.48 mmol/L). Additionally, individuals with multiple comorbidities had the highest prevalence of dyslipidemia (65.8%), followed by those with no comorbidities (53.9%) and single comorbidities (44.9%). Hypertension was associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but higher HDL cholesterol compared to non-hypertensive individuals, while diabetes showed no significant impact on lipid profiles compared to non-diabetics. Statin users had significantly higher total cholesterol, LDL-C, and cardiovascular risk scores, but lower HDL-C levels. Increasing age (OR = 1.030, 95% CI: 1.005-1.055, p = 0.018) was significantly associated with the increased odds of dyslipidemia, whereas hypertension, diabetes, statin use, and gender were not significant factors. Conclusion: Older adult females exhibit a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia and less favorable lipid profiles compared to their male counterparts. These findings underscore the need for gender-specific screening and interventions in dyslipidemia management among the elderly.