Lipid profile levels and associated factors among Parkinson’s disease patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Parkinson's disease patients had significantly lower mean LDL (76.7 vs 85.2 mg/dl, P=0.012), triglyceride (115.02 vs 124.12 mg/dl, P=0.028), and total cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Parkinson's disease (n=111). Intervention: Parkinson's disease vs. Healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Primary outcome: Mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level (mg/dl) (Cohen's d 0.49, p=0.012).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Patients with Parkinson's disease have significantly lower circulating levels of LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared to healthy individuals, with reductions correlating with longer disease duration. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Abditsion Disani Gudisa; Mekdes Alem; Gobena Dedefo Dekebo; Abebe Edao Negesso; Abush Getaneh

doi:10.1186/s12883-026-05608-8

November 6, 2026BMC NeurologyOpen Access

Lipid profile levels and associated factors among Parkinson’s disease patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Key result

Parkinson's disease linked to ~8.5 mg/dl lower mean LDL compared to healthy controls.

Cohen's d −0.49
P=0.012
n=111

Why the study?

Parkinson's disease has been associated with dysregulation of lipid metabolism, but monitoring of lipid profiles in these patients is uncommon in the study area due to limited published evidence.

Key Points

To assess serum lipid profiles and evaluate associated demographic and clinical factors among patients with Parkinson’s disease compared to healthy controls.
Conducted a hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study from March to June 2024 involving 111 participants (50 Parkinson’s disease patients and 61 apparently healthy controls).
Measured lipid profiles using a Cobas c 311 automated analyzer and evaluated differences and associations using independent t-tests, Pearson correlations, and ANCOVA adjusted for age, sex, BMI, physical activity, smoking, and high-fat diet intake.
Mean levels of LDL (76.7 ± 21.77 vs. 85.2 ± 12.59 mg/dl, P = 0.012), triglycerides (115.02 ± 24.84 vs. 124.12 ± 16.01 mg/dl, P = 0.028), and total cholesterol (152.2 ± 30.44 vs. 165.36 ± 29.33 mg/dl, P = 0.023) were significantly lower in Parkinson’s disease patients than in controls.
Reductions remained statistically significant after adjusting for confounders (adjusted P = 0.018 for LDL, P = 0.035 for TG, and P = 0.029 for TC), whereas HDL levels did not differ significantly (42.38 ± 8.08 vs. 41.84 ± 5.83 mg/dl, P = 0.691).
Among Parkinson’s disease patients, disease duration showed significant negative correlations with LDL (r = -0.610, P < 0.001), triglycerides (r = -0.594, P < 0.001), and total cholesterol (r = -0.622, P < 0.001), while age was negatively correlated with triglycerides (r = -0.320, P = 0.023).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=111)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P

Population

111 adults (50 with Parkinson's disease, mean disease duration 11.24 years, and 61 age- and sex-matched healthy controls; mean age 61.34 years, 48.7% female) free of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or lipid-lowering therapy in a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia.

C

Comparator

61 apparently healthy age- and sex-matched individuals without a history or clinical evidence of Parkinson's disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, chronic diseases, or major metabolic disorders.

O

Outcome

Serum lipid profile levels including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) measured after an 8-12 hour overnight fast using the Cobas c 311 automated analyzer.surrogate

Main Result

Standardized Mean Difference: 0.49

Absolute Event Rate: 76.7% vs 85.2%

p-value: p=0.012

Patients with Parkinson's disease in this Ethiopian cohort exhibited significantly lower serum LDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls, with lipid levels inversely correlating with disease duration.

Limitations

Cross-sectional design prevents the establishment of temporal relationships and causal inferences.
Convenience sampling may have introduced selection bias.
Single-center setting may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Individual matching with the control group was not fully feasible within the study period.
Use of a general dietary assessment approach rather than comprehensive dietary and physical activity assessment tools.
Use of convenience sampling may have introduced selection bias.
Inability to achieve individual matching with the control group due to feasibility constraints within the study period.
Limitations related to the statistical methods and the use of a general dietary assessment approach.

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Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

Lower lipid levels in Parkinson's disease should not yet alter management; hypothesis-generating for progression links and prospective validation.

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurological disorder with a significant public health impact and has been associated with dysregulation of lipid metabolism. However, monitoring of lipid profiles in these patients is uncommon in the study area due to the limited published evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess lipid profiles and associated factors among patients with Parkinson’s disease. A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2024 among 111 conveniently selected participants, including 50 Parkinson’s disease patients and 61 apparently healthy individuals. Pretested structured questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data and information related to the disease. Blood samples were obtained and analyzed for lipid profiles using the Cobas c 311 automated analyzer, following ethical approval and informed consent. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS Version 27. Independent t-tests, Pearson correlation, and linear regression were applied to examine associations and correlations among variables. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean levels of LDL (76.7 ± 21.77 vs. 85.2 ± 12.59 mg/dl, P = 0.012), TG (115.02 ± 24.84 vs. 124.12 ± 16.01 mg/dl, P = 0.028), and TC (152.2 ± 30.44 vs. 165.36 ± 29.33 mg/dl, P = 0.023) were lower in Parkinson’s disease patients compared to controls. In patients with Parkinson’s disease, LDL, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) levels showed significant negative correlations with disease duration ( r = -0.610, -0.594, and − 0.622, respectively; P < 0.001). TG levels were also negatively correlated with age ( r = -0.320, P = 0.023). The results revealed disturbances in lipid profiles among Parkinson’s disease patients, which were associated with different factors. Not applicable.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Gudisa et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Parkinson's disease (n=111). Parkinson's disease vs. Healthy age- and sex-matched controls was evaluated on Mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level (mg/dl) (Cohen's d 0.49, p=0.012). Parkinson's disease patients had significantly lower mean LDL (76.7 vs 85.2 mg/dl, P=0.012), triglyceride (115.02 vs 124.12 mg/dl, P=0.028), and total cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aefbd4950d2071ffda4bc4a https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-026-05608-8

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Lipid profile levels and associated factors among Parkinson’s disease patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Lipid profile levels and associated factors among Parkinson’s disease patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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