Abstract
Background/Aim: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a metabolic condition associated with an increased risk of death, morbidity, and vascular problems. This study investigated the association of HIF-1 alpha and dyslipidemia with the incidence of coronary artery disease in Saudi patients with T2DM. Patients and Methods: This study included 100 Saudi patients aged 40-60 years who were attending King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in Taif, as well as 50 healthy controls. All were divided into three groups of 50 subjects each: control, patients with T2DM, and patients with T2DM with coronary complications. Serum levels of HIF-1 alpha, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c %), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were estimated. Results: Serum HIF-1 alpha, FBG, HbA1c %, TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were significantly increased in both groups of patients with diabetes (p<0.001) relative to the control group. Among patient groups, their levels were significantly increased in patients with coronary complications as compared to patients with diabetes (p<0.001). Serum HDL-C levels in both groups of patients with diabetes were significantly lower (p<0.001) than those in the control group. When HDL-C levels were compared between the two patient groups, its levels in patients with diabetes with coronary complications were significantly lower (p<0.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between serum HIF-1 alpha and each of FBG, HbA1c %, TC, TG, and LDL-C levels, whereas negative correlations were observed with HDL-C in both groups of patients with diabetes. Conclusion: Increased serum HIF-1 alpha levels are linked to dyslipidaemia in Saudi patients with T2DM, particularly those with coronary artery disease.