Lipid ratios provide superior cardiovascular risk prediction compared to isolated cholesterol values. This calculator evaluates:
- Atherogenic lipid profiles
- Residual cholesterol risk
- Metabolic syndrome markers
Key Formulas & Calculations:
1. Total Cholesterol to HDL Ratio
TC:HDL =
Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)
HDL (mg/dL)
Optimal:
• < 3.5
• Ideal cardiovascular profile
• Ideal cardiovascular profile
Moderate Risk:
• 3.5-5.0
• Average risk
• Average risk
High Risk:
• > 5.0
• Twice average risk
• Twice average risk
*Most significant lipid ratio for cardiovascular risk prediction
*Every 1-unit increase ≈ 53% increased coronary risk
*Based on fasting lipid profile (12-14 hours)
*Every 1-unit increase ≈ 53% increased coronary risk
*Based on fasting lipid profile (12-14 hours)
2. LDL to HDL Ratio
LDL:HDL =
LDL (mg/dL)
HDL (mg/dL)
Ideal:
• < 2.0
Moderate Risk:
• 2.0-3.0
High Risk:
• > 3.0
*Measures balance between atherogenic and protective cholesterol
*Superior predictor than LDL alone for cardiovascular risk
*Based on fasting lipid profile (12-14 hours)
*Superior predictor than LDL alone for cardiovascular risk
*Based on fasting lipid profile (12-14 hours)
3. Non-HDL Cholesterol
Non-HDL-C =
Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)
–
HDL (mg/dL)
Optimal:
• < 130 mg/dL (ideal)
• < 100 mg/dL (high-risk patients)
• < 100 mg/dL (high-risk patients)
Borderline High:
• 130-159 mg/dL
High Risk:
• ≥ 160 mg/dL
*Includes all atherogenic lipoproteins (VLDL, IDL, LDL, Lp(a))
*Recommended treatment target in most lipid guidelines
*Recommended treatment target in most lipid guidelines
4. Triglyceride to HDL Ratio
TG:HDL =
Triglycerides (mg/dL)
HDL (mg/dL)
Optimal:
• < 2.0 (ideal)
Borderline:
• 2.0-4.0
High Risk:
• > 4.0
*Strong predictor of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk
*Based on fasting lipid profile (12-14 hours)
*Based on fasting lipid profile (12-14 hours)
5. Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP)
AIP = log10
TG (mg/dL)
HDL (mg/dL)
Input Values:
• TG: Triglycerides (mg/dL)
• HDL: HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
• HDL: HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
Interpretation:
• Low Risk: < 0.11
• Intermediate: 0.11-0.24
• High Risk: > 0.24
• Intermediate: 0.11-0.24
• High Risk: > 0.24
*Logarithmic index of atherogenic dyslipidemia
*Values should be from fasting blood samples (12-14 hours)
*Higher values indicate increased cardiovascular risk
*Values should be from fasting blood samples (12-14 hours)
*Higher values indicate increased cardiovascular risk
6. Composite Lipid Risk Factor
LRF =
TC
HDL
×
TG
100
Input Values:
• TC: Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)
• HDL: HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
• TG: Triglycerides (mg/dL)
• HDL: HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
• TG: Triglycerides (mg/dL)
Interpretation:
• Optimal: < 10.0
• Borderline: 11.0 – 29.0
• High Risk: > 30.0
• Borderline: 11.0 – 29.0
• High Risk: > 30.0
*Formula for assessing cardiovascular risk from lipid profile
*All values should be from the same fasting blood sample
*All values should be from the same fasting blood sample
🧮 Lipid Risk Factor Calculator
📐 Formulas:
- Lipid Risk Factor (Composite): (Total Cholesterol ÷ HDL) × (Triglycerides ÷ 100)
- Total Cholesterol to HDL Ratio: Total Cholesterol ÷ HDL
- LDL to HDL Ratio (Optional): LDL ÷ HDL
- Non-HDL Cholesterol: Total Cholesterol − HDL Cholesterol
- Triglyceride to HDL Ratio: Triglycerides ÷ HDL
- Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP): log₁₀ (Triglycerides ÷ HDL)
⚖️ Units Supported:
Values can be entered in mg/dL or mmol/L. Internal calculations convert all values to mg/dL for consistency.
Conversion Factors:
1 mmol/L Cholesterol = 38.67 mg/dL
1 mmol/L Triglycerides = 88.57 mg/dL
💊 Enter the Values:
Step-by-Step Calculation Examples:
Example 1: Basic Lipid Panel (mg/dL)
- TC: 220 mg/dL
- HDL: 50 mg/dL
- LDL: 140 mg/dL
- TG: 150 mg/dL
Calculations:
- TC:HDL = 220/50 = 4.4 (moderate risk)
- LDL:HDL = 140/50 = 2.8 (borderline)
- Non-HDL-C = 220 – 50 = 170 mg/dL (high risk)
- TG:HDL = 150/50 = 3.0 (insulin resistance likely)
- AIP = log₁₀(150/50) = 0.48 (very high risk)
- Composite LRF = (220/50) × (150/100) = 6.6
Unit Conversion Table:
| Parameter | mg/dL → mmol/L | mmol/L → mg/dL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | × 0.0259 | × 38.67 |
| LDL Cholesterol | × 0.0259 | × 38.67 |
| HDL Cholesterol | × 0.0259 | × 38.67 |
| Triglycerides | × 0.0113 | × 88.57 |
Clinical Applications:
1. Cardiovascular Risk Stratification
- High TC:HDL or LDL:HDL: Statin consideration
- Elevated AIP: Small dense LDL predominance
2. Metabolic Syndrome Identification
- TG:HDL >3: Strong insulin resistance marker
3. Treatment Monitoring
- Non-HDL-C: Secondary treatment target
Limitations
- Requires fasting samples for TG accuracy
- Ethnic variability in optimal ratios
- Doesn’t account for Lp(a) or apoB
Key Takeaways
- TC:HDL – Best overall risk predictor
- TG:HDL – Identifies metabolic dysfunction
- AIP – Detects atherogenic dyslipidemia
