LIPID PROFILE

Overview

Lipids are most commonly measured to assess cardiovascular risk. Maintaining desirable concentrations of lipids lowers the risk of heart attacks or strokes. Establishing appropriate treatment strategies and lipid goals require the results for each component of a lipid profile be considered in context with other risk factors including, age, sex, smoking status, family and personal history of heart disease. Lipid profile, including triglycerides and total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol, are modifiable factors sensitive to obesity. Recent studies suggest risk of prostate cancer may increase with obesity-related dyslipidemia, including a low HDL, high LDL and total cholesterol, and high triglycerides. Dyslipidemia may also be related to increased tumor grade, as evidenced by abnormal HDL level being a strong predictor of developing high-risk disease.