People can use the following equations to calculate various cholesterol ratios:
Total cholesterol HDL ratio = total cholesterol ÷ HDL
To obtain your total cholesterol and HDL ratio, a person can divide a total cholesterol level by HDL level. A higher ratio means a higher risk of heart disease.
Always consult the result with your doctor.
Health experts designate the following total cholesterol HDL ratios as follows:
- ideal: under 3.5
- good: under 5.0
- bad: over 5.0
LDL-HDL ratio = LDL ÷ HDL
You can work out your LDL-HDL ratio by dividing LDL level by HDL level. This ratio is one of the most popular measures to see a person’s risk of heart disease.
Always consult the result with your doctor.
Health experts designate the following LDL-HDL ratios as follows:
- ideal: under 2.0
- good: under 5.0
- bad: over 5.0
Based on: https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.37184
Triglyceride HDL ratio = triglyceride level ÷ HDL
You can calculate triglyceride and HDL ratio by dividing triglycerides by their HDL level. This is not a common measurement method, but it can help determine a person’s risk of heart disease.
Always consult the result with your doctor.
Health experts designate the following triglyceride HDL ratios as follows:
- Optimal: 1:1 or less
- Low Risk: 2:1
- Slight Risk: 3:1
- High Risk: 4:1 or higher
TG/HDL-c ratio >4 is the most powerful independent predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) development. Remember that the higher the ratio, the higher the risk of developing prediabetes, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and dying from CAD. It also pays to remember that unlike prescription medications, lifestyle changes (i.e. regular physical activity, healthy diet, quitting smoking, and modest weight loss if needed) cost nothing and have no side effects!
Based on: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.07.080, https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.161.3.361.
Non-HDL cholesterol ratio = total cholesterol – HDL
As the name implies, this measure subtracts a person’s HDL level from their total cholesterol level so that it contains only atherogenic and pro-inflammatory cholesterol.
Always consult the result with your doctor.
The recommended non-HDL cholesterol levels for different risk categories of cardiovascular disease (risk should be calculated based on SCORE-2 calculator).
- extreme < 70 mg/dl (1.8 mmol/l);
- very high < 85 mg/dl (2.2 mmol/l);
- high < 100 mg/dl (2.6 mmol/l);
- moderate < 130 mg/dl (3.4 mmol/l)
The recommended LDL cholesterol levels for different risk categories of cardiovascular disease (risk should be calculated based on SCORE-2 calculator).
Target values for LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration:
- <1.4 mmol/l (<55 mg/dl) in the very high cardiovascular risk group,
- <1.8 mmol/l (<70 mg/dl) in the high-risk group,
- <2.6 mmol/l (<100 mg/dl) in the moderate risk group,
- the target value for patients with a low risk is <3.0 mmol/l (<115 mg/dl)
The recommended Apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels for different risk categories of cardiovascular disease (risk should be calculated based on SCORE-2 calculator).
- extreme < 55 mg/dl (0.55 g/l);
- very high < 65 mg/dl (0.65 g/l);
- high < 80 mg/dl (0.8 g/l);
- moderate < 100 mg/dl (1.0 g/l)
The recommended Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels < 30 mg/dl (75 nmol/l)