Changes in Atherogenic Lipid Profile amongst Obese Women Resident in Rivers State, Nigeria

Increasing incidences of obesity are widely and significantly connected to the risks of cardiovascular/coronary heart diseases, hypertension, stroke, etc. However, prevalence of obesity contrasts by genetic, gender and inter/intra population factors. The present study thus investigated the changes in atherogenic lipid profile in obese women resident in Rivers State. A minimum sample size of 272 was determined using the Leslie Fischer's formula; precisely 334 obese and non-obese women within their 18 and 65 years of age with no critical health condition and resident in Upland and Riverine areas of Rivers State were actually surveyed by the present study. A multistage sampling technique was adopted, and subjects were recruited across the upland and riverine locations of the State. These subjects were uniformly drawn from the multi-ethnic residents of the state. Anthropometric (body mass index-BMI) data and blood sample (via antecubital vein following standard procedures) were obtained from the consenting subjects. After laboratory analyses, the numerical data were subjected to statistical analyses using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test with a p< 0.05 considered statistically significant were determined. Virtually all atherogenic lipid profile markers evaluated in the present study [TC, TG, and LDL-C, Castelli risk index (CRI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and AC atherogenic coefficient (AC)] were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the obese subjects compared to those of the non-obese. And the values were even higher in the riverine obese subjects than in those of their upland counterparts. In conclusion, the outcome of the present study indicates possible existence of intra-cultural or intra-population distinctions that may be responsible for the severer atherogenic lipid profile of the obese subjects, (particularly amongst the riverine subjects). The likely imminent grave health risks (like coronary artery diseases, cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerotic, etc.) amongst the subjects (mainly the riverine residents) must be checked and properly managed at the levels of the individual, caregiver and government/regulators, in order to consciously reduce the huge health burden of obesity in our populace.