Introduction:
Renal Transplant Recipients (RTR) are at high risk of dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is defined by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society as a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) value >2.0 mmol/L in high risk groups. Elevated LDL has been shown to be closely tied to Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). The prevalence of dyslipidemia in the St Paul’s Hospital (SPH) RTR population has not been previously investigated.
 
Objectives:
To describe demographic data and biochemical markers at 1 Year Post Transplant (YPT) and the percentage of RTR with dyslipidemia over 1, 2, and 5YPT. 
 
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was completed for SPH RTR over 18 years old who received transplants between January 1st, 1997 and July 31st, 2018. Descriptive statistics were generated for the sample at 1, 2, and 5YPT.
 
Results:
The inclusion criteria was met by 796 RTR (M:61%, F:39%) and among this sample, 185 RTR (23%) had missing LDL values 1YPT. At 1YPT, the proportion of RTR with dyslipidemia was 79% (n=611) and declined slightly in 2 and 5YPT (78 %, n=577, 77%, n=412). Females (83%, n=257, 81% n=247, 76% n=176) have a higher prevalence in each year than males (75% n=384, 75% n=330, 75% n=236). Of our two largest groups, White ethnicity (81% n=303, 80% n=252, 79% n=220) demonstrated higher prevalence than East Asian individuals (74% n=145, 72% n=145, 72% n=104) across all 3-time points. 

Conclusions:
This study confirms the importance of monitoring LDL values in RTR. It may also have identified a need to improve consistency in blood lipid testing in order to identify dyslipidemia earlier on post-transplant. 

Significance to Practice:
This and future research could lead to a clinical decision-making pathway to help medical professionals determine appropriate and timely dyslipidemia interventions.

The Prevalence of Dyslipidemia in Patients Attending the Post Kidney Transplant Clinic at St Paul’s Hospital