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Published on: October 2023 

Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice,2023; 16(4):294-302 

Opinion | doi :10.5530/ijopp.16.4.52 

Authors:

Md Akbar1, Deepak Jha2,*, Hasan Ali3, Tasneem Ahmad1

1School of Pharmacy, Al-Karim University, Katihar, Bihar, INDIA.

2Department of Pharmacy Practice, ASPM’s K. T. Patil College of Pharmacy, Dharashiv, Maharashtra, INDIA.

3Department of Pharmacy, Meerut Institute of Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA.

Abstract:

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) remains a global health concern, with dyslipidemia playing a significant role in its development. Traditional approaches to assessing CVD risk have primarily focused on individual lipid components, notably Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). However, these approaches exhibit limitations, particularly when applied to populations with hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic disorders. An alternative, non-High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c), which is calculated as the difference between total cholesterol and High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), has emerged as a superior biomarker for evaluating CVD risk. Non-HDL-c encompasses all lipoproteins associated with atherosclerosis, including those rich in triglycerides, offering a more comprehensive perspective on atherogenic burden. This biomarker possesses several advantages, including a robust correlation with atherosclerosis, consistent measurements under diverse laboratory conditions, and suitability for non-fasting samples. Most importantly, non-HDL-c exhibits superior predictive capabilities for cardiovascular events when compared to LDL-c. This review underscores the evolution of lipid assessment, elucidates the pathophysiological foundations of non-HDL-c, and underscores its central role in contemporary cardiovascular risk evaluation. Furthermore, it delves into the potential of non-HDL-c in guiding treatment decisions and enhancing patient outcomes, thus emphasizing its crucial role in the battle against CVD.

Key words: Cardiovascular disease, Dyslipidemia, Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Atherosclerosis, Risk assessment, Cholesterol management.