Diabetic dyslipidaemia and its predictors among hyperglycaemic patients in South Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Diabetic dyslipidaemia is a growing public health concern, especially among patients with diabetes. Despite advancements in diabetes management, diabetic dyslipidaemia remains prevalent and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding its impact, particularly in South Africa, is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Objective: The review aims to address these gaps by systematically analysing existing published studies on diabetic dyslipidaemia, estimating its pooled prevalence, and identifying factors associated with its occurrence.
Methods: The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist guidelines. Eligible studies were sought in electronic databases using search keywords. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist tool was used to assess the quality of studies. STATA 17 software was used for meta-analysis to compute the pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: Ten eligible studies were included. The pooled prevalence of diabetic dyslipidaemia among the South African hyperglycaemic population was 71.56% (95% CI: 56.61–86.52). Sub-group analysis by region reported that the highest prevalence of diabetic dyslipidaemia was 89% (95% CI: 82.87–95.13) in the Western Cape province. The urban population was projected to have the highest prevalence of 79.97% (95% CI: 64.80–95.14). The most frequently reported pattern of diabetic dyslipidaemia was elevated LDL-C, accounting for 59% (95% CI: 43.58–75.93) of the studies. Body mass index (BMI) was the most reported predictor across multiple studies.
Conclusion: These findings of the current study suggest that there is an urgent need to strengthen lipid management strategies in the South African diabetic population.
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