Prevalence, patterns and predictors of dyslipidaemia in Nigeria: a report from the REMAH study

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of dyslipidaemia in adults in Nigeria. Methods: Using the WHO criteria, we determined dyslipidaemia using serum lipid levels of 3 211 adult Nigerians, aged at least 18 years, obtained between March 2017 and February 2018 from two communities (rural and urban) in a state from each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results: The overall prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (l-HDL), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (e-LDL), hypertriglyceridaemia (h-TG) and hypercholesterolaemia (h-CHL) were 72.5,13.6, 21.4 and 7.5%, respectively. The adjusted odds of h-CHL [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.47 (1.10–1.95)], h-TG [1.89 (1.48–2.41)] and e-LDL [1.51 (1.03–2.15)] increased with obesity. Being a rural dweller increased the odds of h-TG [1.55 (1.29–1.85)], e-LDL [1.38 (1.10–1.73)] and l-HDL [1.34 (1.14–1.58)]. The odds of h-CHL [2.16 (1.59–2.95)], h-TG [1.21 (1.01–1.47)], e-LDL [1.42 (1.13–1.80)] and l-HDL [0.78 (0.65–0.93)] increased with hypertension. Diabetes mellitus doubled only the odds of h-TG [2.04(1.36–3.03)]. Conclusion: The prevalence of dyslipidaemia, particularly low HDL-C, is high among adult Nigerians.