Association between Lipid Profile and Stroke among Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated at Public Health Facilities in Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province

Abstract

Stroke is a major public health problem both globally and in Thailand. It is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Diabetes is a significant risk factor for stroke. Dyslipidemia is commonly associated with diabetes and further increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke. However, studies examining the relationship between blood lipid levels and stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly in Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province, and more broadly in Thailand, remain limited. This study aims to the relationship between blood lipid levels and the incidence of stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes. A case-control study was conducted. The sample group included 216 patients with type 2 diabetes who received treatment at government health facilities in Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province. The participants were divided into two groups: the case group, which consisted of 108 type 2 diabetic patients who had cerebrovascular disease, and the control group, which consisted of 108 type 2 diabetic patients without cerebrovascular disease. Data were collected by extracting information from the medical records database of Kamalasai Hospital. The relationship was analyzed using multiple logistic regression, and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (Adjusted OR) with a 95% confidence interval and p-value. Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) levels were significantly associated with stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes (p-value<0.001). After adjusting for the effects of other variables in the final model, patients with type 2 diabetes who had LDL cholesterol levels greater than 100 mg/dL were found to have a 6.14-fold higher risk of stroke compared to those with LDL cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL (Adjusted OR=6.14; 95% CI: 2.60–14.76). In conclusion, the study indicates that LDL cholesterol levels are associated with the incidence of stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, healthcare and public health personnel should routinely screen for and assess cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes who have elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Early intervention and effective management in this group are essential to reduce the risk of stroke.