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What Does This Lipid Profile Test Report Indicate?
Question: Greetings, my 56 year old wife has received her blood results for the life insurance applications. It shows everything nice and normal except elevated total cholesterol at 222. The HDL is a nice 79, and LDL is 123, less that the maximum of around 130. How could the total cholesterol be over 200 with those numbers? The cholesterol/HDL ratio is 2.8, and LDL/HDL is 1.56, with triglycerides at only 98. We thought total cholesterol rises depending on these other factors. How do we understand this, and is it a big deal? Her LDL HDL and triglycerides have always been good, but the total has gone up.
Brief Answer:
This is a normal lipid profile
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that total cholesterol (TC) is calculated as the summary of the cholesterol contained in HDL and LDL molecules and 20% of triglycerides (79+123+ 98x0.2 =221.6 mg/dl in your wife’s case). So HDL, LDL and triglycerides are taken into consideration when calculating TC.
HDL ( high density lipoprotein) is considered as the “good” cholesterol, which helps remove cholesterol from the body by transporting it to the liver. Higher levels (>60mg/dl) of these molecules (like in your case), are a protecting factor against coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis.
LDL (low density lipoprotein) is considered as the “bad” one, which helps increase the cholesterol deposits into the vessel wall.
The TCl / HDL ratio( known as the atherogenic or Castelli index) and LDL/HDL ratios are more indicative of cardiovascular disease risk than total cholesterol.
For women a ratio of TC/HDL <4.0 or LDL/HDL < 3 are indicative of a low risk for cardiovascular disease (like in your wife’s case).
Her triglycerides are below the reference ranges, so everything seems to be OK.
There is nothing to worry about.
Hope to have been of help!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
This is a normal lipid profile
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that total cholesterol (TC) is calculated as the summary of the cholesterol contained in HDL and LDL molecules and 20% of triglycerides (79+123+ 98x0.2 =221.6 mg/dl in your wife’s case). So HDL, LDL and triglycerides are taken into consideration when calculating TC.
HDL ( high density lipoprotein) is considered as the “good” cholesterol, which helps remove cholesterol from the body by transporting it to the liver. Higher levels (>60mg/dl) of these molecules (like in your case), are a protecting factor against coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis.
LDL (low density lipoprotein) is considered as the “bad” one, which helps increase the cholesterol deposits into the vessel wall.
The TCl / HDL ratio( known as the atherogenic or Castelli index) and LDL/HDL ratios are more indicative of cardiovascular disease risk than total cholesterol.
For women a ratio of TC/HDL <4.0 or LDL/HDL < 3 are indicative of a low risk for cardiovascular disease (like in your wife’s case).
Her triglycerides are below the reference ranges, so everything seems to be OK.
There is nothing to worry about.
Hope to have been of help!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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