Association between Anthropometry, Dyslipidaemia and the Ten-Year Relative Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Ghanaians with Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension at the Battor Catholic Hospital

Disordered body fat distribution and plasma lipid levels promote atherosclerosis, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The process of atherosclerosis is vigorous and rapid in diabetes and hypertension. This study sought to determine the relationship between anthropometric and dyslipidaemic parameters as well as ascertain using the Framingham percentage risk for heart disease, the ten-year relative risk of developing CVD among type 2 diabetes and hypertensive patients attending the Battor Catholic Hospital. This hospital-based case-control study involved 125 participants with hypertension, type 2 diabetes or both and 62 age-matched healthy individuals as controls. Socio-demographic data was captured using a semi-structured questionnaire; anthropometric and biochemical variables were obtained using standard methods. The anthropometric and atherogenic dyslipidaemic parameters of the case participants were found to be significantly higher compared to the controls. Among the case group, 49 (39.2%) were observed to have a high risk and 41 (32.8%) with a moderate risk of developing coronary heart disease in ten years. Among the control group, 11.3% presented with moderate risk with none scoring a high risk of developing coronary disease within ten years. The odds of developing coronary heart disease in ten years was 4.5 times higher among the case group with a higher female preponderance.