A derived lipid value offers a more complete picture of cardiovascular risk than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) alone. It is determined by subtracting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) from total cholesterol. As an example, if an individual’s total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL and their HDL-C is 50 mg/dL, the resulting value is 150 mg/dL.
This value represents all the cholesterol in the blood that is considered potentially atherogenic, meaning it contributes to the formation of plaque in arteries. It includes LDL-C, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C), and lipoprotein(a). Its use has become increasingly important because it often correlates better with cardiovascular events than LDL-C, especially in individuals with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or high triglyceride levels. Historically, LDL-C was the primary focus of cholesterol management, but the appreciation of the role of other atherogenic lipoproteins has led to the growing adoption of this calculated measure.
