C-reactive protein is associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and obesity in type 2 diabetic Sudanese

Abstract

Background

Type 2 diabetes is emerging in Sudan and is associated with obesity. Deregulated lipid metabolism and inflammatory states are suggested risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is a leading cause of diabetic death. This study aimed to investigate C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic adult Sudanese compared with nondiabetics, and to test their associations with other characteristics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study including 70 diabetics and 40 nondiabetics was conducted. Anthropometric measurements were assessed, and demographic and medical data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Blood specimens were collected and biochemical parameters were analyzed applying standard methods.

Results

CRP and triglycerides were significantly higher in the diabetic group (P<0.001 and P=0.01, respectively). Differences in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were not statistically significant between the diabetic and nondiabetic groups. In the diabetic group, correlation analysis revealed that the CRP level had a significant positive correlation with LDL-C (r=0.255, P=0.034) and body mass index (r=0.29, P=0.016). Body mass index showed a significant positive correlation with triglycerides (r=0.386, P=0.001). Within the lipid parameters, a number of significant correlations were observed. Elevated levels of CRP, LDL-C, and triglycerides were markedly more prevalent in the diabetic group of patients. Diabetics showed significantly higher CRP levels compared with nondiabetics (odds ratio 5.56, P=0.001).

Conclusion

The high prevalence of obesity among diabetics, together with elevated levels of triglycerides and CRP, suggest coexistence of dyslipidemia and inflammation in diabetes. Our findings emphasize that diabetics were 5.6 times more likely to have high CRP levels than nondiabetics; as CRP is a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk, it can be recognized that diabetics are at more risk of cardiovascular disease than nondiabetics. Considering evaluation of CRP together with the lipid profile in prediction of cardiovascular disease risk in Sudanese diabetics should be further tested in large-scale studies.

Keywords:

• C-reactive protein
• type 2 diabetes
• lipid profile
• obesity
• cardiovascular disease
• Sudanese

Supplementary materials

Figure S1 Structured patient questionnaire.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the study participants for their cooperation. The laboratory technicians at Abu Agla diabetes management center are acknowledged for their facilitation of the laboratory analyses. This work was funded by the Ministry of Education, Unity State, South Sudan.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.