No abstract

Introduction diabetes mellitus can lead to complications including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) is a test of glycaemic control in T2DM patients, and its association with CVD can be mediated through modulation of risk factors such as dyslipidaemia. It is suggested that correlation of HbA1c with blood lipids may enable its use as a dual marker for glycaemic status and dyslipidaemia. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between glycaemic control and blood lipid concentrations in T2DM patients. Methods a cross-sectional study of T2DM patients at Enugu, Nigeria. After obtaining informed consent, questionnaires were administered, and then venous blood was collected for determination of HbA1c and fasting lipid profile. Student T-test was used to compare mean results of two groups and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine relationships. A p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results fifty -five (55) T2DM patients comprising of 24 females and 31 males, with mean±SD age 57±12 years were studied. Prevalence of patients with poor glycaemic control (HbA1c≥7%) was 34 (61.8%). More males (36.4%) than females (25.4%) had poor glycaemic control. There was a positive, statistically significant correlation between HbA1c and TC (r=0.406); Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) (r=0.409); and triglyceride (TG) (r=0.273), p<0.05. Correlation between HbA1c and HDL-C was negative (r=-0.269, p<0.05). Conclusion the significant correlation between HbA1c and various lipid parameters may suggest the importance of glycaemic control as well as managing dyslipidaemia in the reduction of risk for CVD in T2DM patients, for which HbA1c may be used to monitor both, thereby reducing cost.

Background: Elderly people have increased risk factors for low serum vitamin D levels, which is worsened among the black race. Therefore, elderly Africans constitute a reference population for vitamin D study. Aim: The aim of this study was to establish the reference interval of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) among an African elderly population. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of rural community dwellers in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria aged 50 years and above, that satisfied the criteria of the reference population. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Venous blood was collected from reference individuals and serum 25(OH)D was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Data were analysed using a non-parametric, bootstrap method to obtain the central 95% reference limits and 90% confidence intervals of the lower and upper limits of the reference interval respectively. Results: One hundred and twenty-four (62 males and 62 females) participants were recruited. The median (25th -75th percentile) of serum 25(OH)D was 56 (35 – 71) ng/ml. The 2.5th percentile defined the lower reference limit and it was 21 ng/ml with 90% confidence interval (20 – 23) ng/ml; while the 97.5th percentile defined the upper reference limit and it was 93 ng/ml with 90% confidence interval (90 – 98) ng/ml. Conclusion: The reference interval for serum 25(OH)D for the selected African elderly population in Enugu, Nigeria was determined to be 21 to 93 ng/ml. Keywords: Bootstrap method; elderly; reference interval; vitamin D.