Glycaemic Control, Dyslipidaemia and Metabolic Syndrome among Recently Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana

BACKGROUND: Poor glycaemic control, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between glycaemic control, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome and their relative incidence among recently diagnosed diabetic patients in Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. METHODS: This prospective study, which involved a sample size of 240 diabetics, was conducted at the Tamale Teaching/ Regional Hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana from September 2006 to August 2007. Data obtained about each patient included blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, fasting glucose, lipid, lipoprotein cholesterol, and HbA1C levels. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS: The frequency of good glycaemic control, poor glycaemic control, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome among the patients were 96 (40.0%), 144 (60.0%), 164 (68.3%) and 104 (43.3%) respectively. Dyslipidaemia occurred in 56 (58.3%) of the patients with good glycaemic control and 108 (75.0%) of those with poor glycaemic control. Metabolic syndrome occurred in 32 (33.3%) of the patients with good glycaemic control and 72 (50.0%) of the patients with poor glycaemic control. CONCLUSION: Among recently diagnosed diabetic patients in Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome were each associated with poor glycaemic control. Dyslipidaemia was the most sensitive predictor of cardiovascular disease, followed by poor glycaemic control and thirdly metabolic syndrome