Patterns and determinants of cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus: insights into the current state of diabetes management in Nigeria

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the patterns and determinants of CVD risk in these settings is essential to improving diabetes care and reducing disease burden. This study investigated the patterns and determinants of CVD risk among T2DM patients receiving specialized diabetes care in Nigeria, with the aim of informing effective risk evaluation and management strategies. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 T2DM patients in Nigeria. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data were collected using structured research proforma. CVD risk was assessed using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), stratified into low, moderate, and high-risk categories. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and Microsoft Excel. Chi-square and independent samples t-tests were used to compare variables across risk groups while multiple linear regression was employed to identify independent determinants of CVD risk. Results Among the study participants, 70.7% (n = 106) were categorized as having low CVD risk (mean FRS = 6.1 ± 2.2), 29.3% (n = 44) had moderate risk (mean FRS = 11.1 ± 1.2) while none were identified as high CVD risk. Hypertriglyceridemia (B = 0.012, 95% CI: 0.006–0.019, p < 0.001), longer diabetes duration (B = 0.207, 95% CI: 0.147–0.267, p < 0.001), and use of anti-hypertensive (B = -2.005, 95% CI: -2.707 – -1.303, p < 0.001) and lipid-lowering drugs (B = -2.207, 95% CI: -3.282 – -1.132, p < 0.001) were the major determinants of CVD risk status in the study population. Conclusions This study reveals a predominance of low and moderate CVD risk levels among Nigerian patients with T2DM, identifying hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes duration, and medication use as key determinants. The findings highlight the positive impact of specialized diabetes care in maintaining lower CVD risk levels and emphasize the importance of comprehensive, individualized strategies for cardiovascular risk evaluation and management. Integrating effective lipid control, glycaemic monitoring, and optimized medication use into routine diabetes care has the potential to significantly reduce the CVD burden in similar resource-limited settings.