Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension are modern-day epidemics that determine the health status of both low- and high-income countries throughout the world. Dyslipidemia and obesity are risk factors that contribute greatly to these diseases. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), waist–height ratio, and lipid profile can detect both general and abdominal obesity.

Aim and Objective: This study was conducted to find the association between these obesity parameters and lipid profile in patients with both type 2 DM and hypertension.

Materials and Methods: This was a case–control study conducted in the age group of 30–75 years. Cases were patients with both DM and hypertension. Healthy controls were selected from the general population (hospital staff). 64 subjects were taken in each group in a 1:1 ratio. Anthropometric measurements and blood investigations including blood sugar, serum insulin, lipid profile, and insulin resistance (IR) were measured. Analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation were done.

Results: The mean age among the cases was 58.50 ± 6.58 years while among the controls was 48.72 ± 9.56 years. Mean anthropometric measurements were found to be significantly higher among the cases compared to the controls (P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between IR and BMI, WC, and WHR among patients with both DM and hypertension (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The use of a combination of the four obesity parameters will yield better results in the detection of obesity and timely intervention can be made to reduce the complications associated with DM and hypertension. WC is a simple tool to exclude IR and to identify those at risk to develop metabolic disease and therefore would benefit most from lifestyle modifications.

Key words: Diabetes Mellitus; Hypertension; Insulin Resistance; Body Mass Index; Waist Circumference; Waist–hip Ratio; Lipid Profile