Prevalence of Dyslipidemia and Associated Factors Among Adult Outpatients at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dyslipidemia is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor that significantly contributes to the global burden of atherosclerotic disease. In Ethiopia, particularly among adult outpatients in routine care settings, the magnitude and determinants of lipid abnormalities have not been adequately characterized. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia and identify associated factors among adult patients attending the outpatient department of Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 10 to March 20, 2026, among 376 adult outpatients at Jimma Medical Center. A target sample of 386 participants was determined using prevalence and double population proportion approaches, and consecutive sampling was used; 376 participants ultimately participated, yielding a 97.4% response rate. Data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire and data extraction checklist. Dyslipidemia was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with dyslipidemia. Variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered into the multivariable model, and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were reported. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 376 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 41.5 ± 13.6 years, and 52.1% were male. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 60.4% (95% CI: 55.4-65.3%) among untreated adult outpatients included in the study. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age category 50-64 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.20-4.49), obesity (AOR = 4.24, 95% CI: 2.34-7.66), and presence of hypertension (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.14-2.90) were independently associated with increased odds of dyslipidemia. Conversely, being a farmer was significantly associated with lower odds of dyslipidemia (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among adult outpatients at Jimma Medical Center was high, affecting more than half of the study participants. Older age, obesity, and hypertension were significant predictors of dyslipidemia, while farming occupation appeared protective. Integrating routine lipid screening into outpatient services and implementing targeted weight management and hypertension control programs may help reduce the cardiovascular risk burden in this population.