Heart and cholesterol
LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio
LDL-C/HDL-C
Included in every MyHealthspan membership: Focus, Baseline, and Complete.
Compare membershipsTwo cholesterol results, compared side by side.
The LDL/HDL ratio is calculated by dividing your LDL cholesterol by your HDL cholesterol. It compares the cholesterol in particles that can build plaque with the cholesterol in HDL particles, which help carry cholesterol back to the liver.
This ratio is best read as extra context.
A higher ratio means more LDL cholesterol relative to HDL. Some earlier studies found that ratios like this predicted heart risk better than single cholesterol results on their own.
Canadian guidelines base treatment decisions on LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, or ApoB, so this ratio isn't used as a target. It may also understate risk when triglycerides are high, because LDL cholesterol leaves out the cholesterol in triglyceride-rich particles.
Questions
Why calculate a ratio at all?
A ratio puts two results side by side, which can make your profile easier to read at a glance. Your clinician will still look at each value, and at ApoB, before drawing conclusions.
What can change my LDL/HDL ratio?
Anything that lowers LDL or raises HDL will lower the ratio. Eating patterns, physical activity, body weight, smoking, genetics, and cholesterol-lowering medication can all play a part.