Cholesterol

[Magneto2009]

I know this is mentioned elsewhere on the forum, but I'm a bit confused by my cholestrol results. I knew to ask the Dr for my overall count, my HDL and my LDL and trycs but he couldn't give them all to me as some levels were too high?!

My overall level was 7.2. I've noted down that my ratio to HDL is 12 and tryglicerides were 13. Not sure what this means and how to calculate LDL or HDL? I know it means dangerously high cholesterol but not much else.

Any thoughts?

 

[Goonergal]

I know this is mentioned elsewhere on the forum, but I'm a bit confused by my cholestrol results. I knew to ask the Dr for my overall count, my HDL and my LDL and trycs but he couldn't give them all to me as some levels were too high?!

My overall level was 7.2. I've noted down that my ratio to HDL is 12 and tryglicerides were 13. Not sure what this means and how to calculate LDL or HDL? I know it means dangerously high cholesterol but not much else.

Any thoughts?

I think there re some decimal points missing there. Is HDL 1.2 and trigs 1.3?

You’ll need all the figures, or at least 3 of them, but you might find these calculators helpful:

https://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php
https://cholesterolcode.com/report/

You are entitled to the full breakdown, so if you don’t have access to your records online, I’d ask for a print out from your surgery.

Editing to say that the calculators will work with the 3 figures you’ve given.

 

[bulkbiker]

My overall level was 7.2. I've noted down that my ratio to HDL is 12 and tryglicerides were 13. Not sure what this means and how to calculate LDL or HDL? I know it means dangerously high cholesterol but not much else.

Those figures don't really compute as @Goonergal says
If your HDL was 1.2 and your trigs 1.3 then your figures are kind of ok.

How long had you fasted before the blood was taken for the test as this can have quite a significant impact.

If you want to dive deep there is a pretty detailed thread.. here

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/

 

[Brunneria]

Do you have online access to your medical records/test results?
If so, you can check those numbers.
Alternately, I would give your doc surgery a ring. Since you have already discussed the results with the doc, the receptionist may be able to just give you the numbers over the phone.
Once you are sure of the figs, then you can research further.

 

[Magneto2009]

I’m really confused! The dr said my triglyceride levels should be below 2 but are 13! And the TC to HDL ratio is 12. Could these be in different measures to normal? He wants me to take a statin as he says the levels are high, putting me at 20% risk of heart attack (double what it should be for my age) but I’ve just read that raises BG! This might explain why he is insistent I should take metformin now too, despite my BG levels averaging 6mmol/l?!

 

[bulkbiker]

I’m really confused! The dr said my triglyceride levels should be below 2 but are 13! And the TC to HDL ratio is 12. Could these be in different measures to normal? He wants me to take a statin as he says the levels are high, putting me at 20% risk of heart attack (double what it should be for my age) but I’ve just read that raises BG! This might explain why he is insistent I should take metformin now too, despite my BG levels averaging 6mmol/l?!

I'm afraid that your doctor is woefully misinformed about cholesterol (yes it is quite common). If your total cholesterol is 7.2 then your Triglycerides cannot be 12 nor your HDL 13.
You really need to get the correct numbers first then we can analyse. (and the exact units too).
Also we'll need to know how long you had fasted before the blood was taken. If you hadn't then entire result is fairly worthless.

 

[Magneto2009]

Thanks, I’ll try to get the correct numbers tomorrow. I had fasted from 8pm the night before and had my appointment around 9.30am, so over 12 hours.

 

[Magneto2009]

@bulkbiker my results are here, and they were correct - off the scale! Not sure if this means I really must take the statin or not.

 

[bulkbiker]

@bulkbiker my results are here, and they were correct - off the scale! Not sure if this means I really must take the statin or not.

Sorry can't see the attachment..

 

[Magneto2009]

 

[Dr Snoddy]

Is a retest possible? I would want to verify those triglyceride levels as I don't understand how your total serum lipids could be less than your triglycerides. Misplaced decimal point???

 

[Goonergal]

View attachment 47425

I can only think there’s a typo somewhere the lab. If the total cholesterol is 7.2, it’s impossible that the trigs are 13.8. But perhaps there’s a 1 missing from the total cholesterol value?

I’d definitely agree on getting a re-test to find out!

 

[Dr Snoddy]

It would also be very worrying if your clinician went ahead with prescriptions instead of querying these results.

 

[Magneto2009]

I can only think there’s a typo somewhere the lab. If the total cholesterol is 7.2, it’s impossible that the trigs are 13.8. But perhaps there’s a 1 missing from the total cholesterol value?

I’d definitely agree on getting a re-test to find out!

Thanks. I’m new to all this so don’t understand how it is impossible for the triglycerides to be 13.8. Is there some sort of calculation? I was told my cholesterol in 2016 was 6.6, so I’d be surprised if it’s now way more than 7.2 now (although I was only told this result from 2016 this week!)

 

[Goonergal]

Thanks. I’m new to all this so don’t understand how it is impossible for the triglycerides to be 13.8. Is there some sort of calculation? I was told my cholesterol in 2016 was 6.6, so I’d be surprised if it’s now way more than 7.2 now (although I was only told this result from 2016 this week!)

I don’t know what the underlying formula is, but if the total is 7.2 then one of the underlying components cannot be almost double that value. Equally it could be the total that’s been expressed wrong.

I don’t want to play about with your figures on a public forum, but to illustrate, attached are a series of photos using some recent results of mine. The first photo is the results as shown in my online records. The second is a shot of me having entered 3 of the values into this calculator. The third is a shot of the calculator’s estimate of my LDL (which was the one I left out). It’s slightly out, but I guess that’s to do with rounding in the original results. The final is the result of my having added my LDL value and left out the HDL. Again the full result is slightly different than the published results, but close enough to suggest rounding rather than an error. The fifth is a shot of the ‘analysis’ that pops up underneath (want you to be aware that happens.

Hope that makes some sort of sense.

Also tagging @bulkbiker as he’s far more knowledgeable than me about this stuff.

Editing as used wrong figures so pics were wrong. Now corrected.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Our total cholesterol is HDL + LDL + 40% of the trigs.
40% of your trigs are 5.52. (If my maths are correct)
Therefore it is possible your figures are correct.

You need a re-test, and if the figures are similar, then your doctor should be referring you to a specialist.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...the-primary-and-secondary-prevention-of-cvd-2

1.3.10 In people with a triglyceride concentration between 10 and 20 mmol/litre:

• repeat the triglyceride measurement with a fasting test (after an interval of 5 days, but within 2 weeks) and
  
  
• review for potential secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia and
  
  
• seek specialist advice if the triglyceride concentration remains above 10 mmol/litre.
  

 

[bulkbiker]

Our total cholesterol is HDL + LDL + 40% of the trigs.
40% of your trigs are 5.52. (If my maths are correct)
Therefore it is possible your figures are correct.

You need a re-test, and if the figures are similar, then your doctor should be referring you to a specialist.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...the-primary-and-secondary-prevention-of-cvd-2

1.3.10 In people with a triglyceride concentration between 10 and 20 mmol/litre:

• repeat the triglyceride measurement with a fasting test (after an interval of 5 days, but within 2 weeks) and
  
  
• review for potential secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia and
  
  
• seek specialist advice if the triglyceride concentration remains above 10 mmol/litre.

Hi @Magneto2009
I think @Bluetit1802 is right here.
I'd definitely be asking for a retest as if these figures are correct then they are pretty "out there".
I'm amazed that with those figures your doctor hasn't asked for more investigation as they are (and I have to add if correct) very odd.
Your HDL is very low and Triglycerides very high.

 

[bulkbiker]

Just as a comparison these are mine over the past few years..

 

[Dr Snoddy]

Thanks. I’m new to all this so don’t understand how it is impossible for the triglycerides to be 13.8. Is there some sort of calculation? I was told my cholesterol in 2016 was 6.6, so I’d be surprised if it’s now way more than 7.2 now (although I was only told this result from 2016 this week!)

Our total cholesterol is HDL + LDL + 40% of the trigs.
40% of your trigs are 5.52. (If my maths are correct)
Therefore it is possible your figures are correct.

You need a re-test, and if the figures are similar, then your doctor should be referring you to a specialist.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...the-primary-and-secondary-prevention-of-cvd-2

1.3.10 In people with a triglyceride concentration between 10 and 20 mmol/litre:

• repeat the triglyceride measurement with a fasting test (after an interval of 5 days, but within 2 weeks) and
  
  
• review for potential secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia and
  
  
• seek specialist advice if the triglyceride concentration remains above 10 mmol/litre.

[Glad you are on it, Bluetit. This would make Magento2009's LDD reading 1.11/QUOTE]

Our total cholesterol is HDL + LDL + 40% of the trigs.
40% of your trigs are 5.52. (If my maths are correct)
Therefore it is possible your figures are correct.

You need a re-test, and if the figures are similar, then your doctor should be referring you to a specialist.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...the-primary-and-secondary-prevention-of-cvd-2

1.3.10 In people with a triglyceride concentration between 10 and 20 mmol/litre:

• repeat the triglyceride measurement with a fasting test (after an interval of 5 days, but within 2 weeks) and
  
  
• review for potential secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia and
  
  
• seek specialist advice if the triglyceride concentration remains above 10 mmol/litre.

Glad you are on it Bluetit! Using the formula this would make Magento's LDL reading 1.11 which would be good. However, these results do need a second look.

 

[Dr Snoddy]

Also interesting that the lab report says unable to calculate LDL. This suggests a lack of awareness of the formula involved for calculating total cholesterol.