Dyslipidemia: prevalence and association with precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix; a pilot study

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of dyslipidemia is on the rise, with studies showing dyslipidemia as a contributing factor to the progression of premalignant lesions to cervical cancer. In Uganda, cervical cancer and dyslipidemia are common health concerns, considering the increasing trends of dyslipidemia in the general population and inadequate information regarding dyslipidemia and cervical lesions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its association with precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix among women attending a cervical cancer clinic at the Uganda Cancer Institute. This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2022 among women with premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix. Data on social demographics and health-seeking behaviours were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire after written informed consent had been obtained. Pap smear collection preceded visual inspection with acetic acid; cervical biopsies were collected appropriately from eligible participants; and cervical lesions were classified using the Bethesda system 2014. Serum lipids, total cholesterol (T.C.), high-density lipoprotein (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein (LDLc), and triglycerides (T.G.s) were analysed using the COBAS™ 6000 Clinical Chemistry Analyser. The associations were assessed using the chi-square test, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia among women with cervical lesions was 118/159 (74