A Retrospective Analysis of Non-HDL Cholesterol: For Improved Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

Objective: To assess Non-HDL cholesterol as an indicator of Cardiovascular risk (CVR) in addition to low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Indus Hospital Karachi from September 2007 to December 2012. After approval for conducting the research obtained from the Institutional Research Board a retrospective analysis of non-HDL cholesterol and LDL Cholesterol in 2115 lipid profiles was conducted, which had been analyzed on fasting serum or EDTA plasma by Randox Rx Imola and Daytona analyzers using Randox kits. Since this was a retrospective study that included all the lipid profiles presented in the lab from Sept 2007 to Dec 2012, so it did not require any sample size calculation. Results: Statistical analysis performed on data was unpaired t-test using SPSS package Version 22. Analysis of 2115 lipid profiles shows that 1389 (66%) had Triglyceride levels above 1.7mmol/l of which 642 (46%) were females and 747 (54%) were males. Regarding males, in 77 out of 747 (10%) samples there was an elevated non-HDL cholesterol (greater than 3.4mmol/l) in the presence of a normal LDL cholesterol (less than 2.6 mmol/l.). In the other 22 out of 747 (2.9%) males, LDL-cholesterol was elevated in the presence of normal non-HDL cholesterol. In the females 66 out of 624 (10%) samples there was an elevated non-HDL cholesterol (greater than 3.4mmol/l) in the presence of a normal LDL-cholesterol (less than 2.6 mmol/l) and LDL-cholesterol was elevated in the presence of normal non-HDL cholesterol in 15 femalesout of 642 (2.3%). Conclusion: Non-HDL cholesterol is also a necessary analysis for the true assessment of cardiac vascular risk in addition to LDL-cholesterol especially in the samples with elevated triglycerides samples. Therefore, it is recommended that non-HDL cholesterol be reported as part of lipid profile.