Dyslipidemia is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases and it is closely related to other cardiovascular risk factors.

This study was designed to investigate the pattern and clinical correlates of dyslipidemia in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

It was a cross sectional analytic study conducted in outpatient cardiology unit in 3 reference hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Five hundred and five subjects with either type 2 diabetes, hypertension, current tobacco smoking and/or obesity were recruited. Relevant history, clinical examinations and laboratory tests were recorded. Dyslipidemia was identified based on serum lipids levels following the standards proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

The prevalence of dyslipidemia (at least one abnormal lipid parameter) was 65.6%. High TC constituted the highest abnormality (47.5%) followed by high LDL-C (41.6%), low HDL-C (20.7%) and high TG (17.9%). After grouping the subjects according to the number of risk factors, the prevalence of dyslipidemia and low HDL-C increased with the number of risk factors present but there was no significant change in prevalence of high TC, high LDL-C and high TG. Low HDL was significantly associated with male sex and had an inverse correlation with waist–hip ratio.

The prevalence of dyslipidemia was very high in these patients who already have other cardiovascular risk factors. Emphasis should be laid on prevention, screening and treatment to control lipid disorders.