ABSTRACT
To see the effects of age, gender and diabetes on serum lipid levels. Cross sectional analytical study conducted at PMRC Research Centre, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore from Jun-Dec 2011. One hundred type 2 diabetes mellitus and equal numbers of gender matched healthy controls were randomly selected for the study. After an overnight fasting, blood specimens were drawn for lipid profile where total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were measured by standard enzymatic endpoint methods and LDL-cholesterol by Friedweld's formula. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-15. Odd ratios of age for total cholesterol [OR 1.198]; high density lipoprotein cholesterol [OR 1.144]; and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [OR 1.576] revealed that subjects aged 45 years or more had greater risk of having deranged lipid levels. Female gender had higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol [p 0.000] and triglycerides [p 0.001]. Odd ratios of men for total cholesterol [OR 0.775]; high density lipoprotein cholesterol [OR 0.183]; and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [OR 0.683] illustrated that men were significantly less prone to dyslipidemia than women. Odd ratio of diabetes for high density lipoprotein cholesterol [OR 1.802] suggested that diabetics had 1.8 times more risk of having low high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Diabetic females over 45 years of age have significantly high chances of having disturbed or high lipid profile. All persons in general and diabetics in particular over the age of 45 years should be screened for dyslipidemia and informed using behavior change communication to prevent disease complications