Cholesterol Risk Categoriser

How it works

Enter the four values from your lipid profile (typically reported in mg/dL by SRL, Metropolis or Dr Lal PathLabs). We bucket each into the NCEP ATP-III bands: Total <200 desirable, 200–239 borderline, ≥240 high; LDL <100 optimal, 100–159 near-optimal/borderline, ≥160 high; HDL <40 low (risk), ≥60 protective; Triglycerides <150 normal, 150–199 borderline, ≥200 high. The Total/HDL ratio (atherogenic index) is calculated automatically.

Worked example

A 42-year-old Bengaluru IT professional with Total 220, LDL 145, HDL 38, TG 210: Total borderline, LDL borderline, HDL low (risk factor), TG high. Total/HDL = 5.8, which is high cardiovascular risk territory. Indian guidelines (Lipid Association of India 2020) are even stricter — they recommend LDL <70 for known diabetics and <55 for those with established heart disease, because South Asians have higher baseline atherosclerotic risk.

When to use this

• Reading your annual master health checkup from Apollo, Manipal or Fortis
• Tracking improvement after starting a statin or lifestyle change
• Pre-screening before life insurance medicals (HDFC Life, LIC, ICICI Pru)

Combine with the BMI calculator and BP category check for a fuller cardiac risk picture.