1. What is the Cholesterol Ratio?

The cholesterol ratio (Total Cholesterol/HDL) is a significant indicator of cardiovascular risk. A ratio above 5 or LDL cholesterol above 190 mg/dL may indicate the need for statin therapy to manage cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular risk.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the cholesterol ratio formula:

Where:

• \( Total\ Cholesterol \) — Total cholesterol level in mg/dL
• \( HDL \) — HDL cholesterol level in mg/dL

Explanation: The calculator also considers LDL cholesterol levels. Statin therapy is recommended if the ratio is greater than 5 or if LDL cholesterol is greater than 190 mg/dL.

3. Importance of Cholesterol Ratio

Details: Monitoring cholesterol ratio and LDL levels helps identify patients who may benefit from statin therapy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in mg/dL. LDL cholesterol is optional but provides additional guidance. All values must be valid (cholesterol > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use cholesterol ratio for statin prescription?
A: Cholesterol ratio provides a comprehensive view of lipid profile and cardiovascular risk, complementing individual cholesterol measurements.

Q2: What are normal cholesterol ratio values?
A: A ratio below 3.5 is considered ideal, while a ratio above 5 indicates increased cardiovascular risk.

Q3: When should cholesterol be measured?
A: Fasting lipid profile is recommended for accurate measurement, typically after a 9-12 hour fast.

Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This is a screening tool. Final treatment decisions should consider additional risk factors, patient history, and clinical judgment.

Q5: Should statins be prescribed based solely on this calculation?
A: No. This calculation should be used as part of a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment that includes other factors such as age, smoking status, blood pressure, and diabetes.