Dyslipidemia in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Attending Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipal Hospital: Pre‐ and Post‐Anti‐Tuberculosis Treatment

ABSTRACT Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health problem in Ghana, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Persons with TB are at risk of adverse cardiovascular disease with hyperlipidemia being a major risk factor. The standard treatment for pulmonary TB includes a combination of anti‐tuberculosis drugs such as Rifampicin, Isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol which have been associated with changes in lipid profile that could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Despite the existence of the links between cholesterol and TB, it is not clear to what extent the treatment of the disease affects lipid indicators in patients with TB, particularly in Ghana. This study, therefore, sought to investigate any differences in the concentration of lipid profile in Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients in Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality vis‐sa‐vis pre‐ and post‐anti‐tuberculosis treatment. Methods A cross‐sectional survey involving 210 participants was conducted in Nsawam‐Adoagyiri Municipal Hospital, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17. Categorical variables were presented as numbers (percentages). Continuous variables with normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Inferential statistics were explored using paired t‐test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The overall dyslipidemia pre‐ and post‐tuberculosis treatment are 69.0% (145/210) and 77.6% (163/210) respectively. The mean Total Cholesterol and LDL increased significantly after the patient had completed the anti‐tuberculosis treatment (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant difference in the mean triglycerides (TG) and HDL levels before and after treatment. Conclusion These findings suggest that dyslipidemia is quite prevalent among TB patients attending the Nsawam Government Hospital, which may have a negative effect on their health and general well‐being. There is a significant difference in the lipid profile results of the participants’ overall before and after the TB therapy. Anti‐TB treatment needs to develop more advanced recommendations that take patients' lipid levels into account in order to improve the outcomes for TB patients.