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Cardiovascular Disease
Hyperlipidemia predisposes a person to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of lipids, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous plaques within the artery walls of the heart. This accumulation narrows the blood vessel and reduce blood flow and oxygen to muscles of the heart. Complete blockage of the artery causes infarction of the myocardial cells, also known as heart attack.

Symptoms
Most people with hyperlipidemia are asymptomatic. Xanthomas and/or pimple-like lesions may rarely manifest at very high blood cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels.

Screening
Serum level of Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) Cholesterol, and triglycerides are commonly tested in primary care setting using a lipid panel. Quantitative levels of lipoproteins and triglycerides contribute toward cardiovascular disease risk stratification via models/calculators such as Framingham Risk Score, ACC/AHA Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimator, and/or Reynolds Risk Scores. These models/calculators may also take into account of family history( heart disease and/or high blood cholesterol), age, gender, Body-Mass-Index, medical history (diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease), high sensitivity CRP levels, coronary artery calcium score, and ankle-brachial index. The cardiovascular stratification further determines what medical intervention may be necessary to decrease the risk of future cardiovascular disease.

Total Cholesterol
The combined quantity of LDL and HDL. A total cholesterol of higher than 240mg/dL is abnormal, but medical intervention is determined by the breakdown of LDL and HDL levels.

LDL Cholesterol
LDL,commonly known as "bad cholesterol", is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It is also associated with diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and atherosclerosis. In a fasting lipid panel, a LDL greater than 160 mg/dL is abnormal.

HDL Cholesterol

HDL, also known as "good cholesterol", is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. It can be affected by acquired or genetic factors, including tobacco use, obesity, inactivity, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes, high carbohydrate diet, medication side effects (beta-blockers, androgenic steroids, corticosteroids, progestogens, thiazide diuretics, retinoic acid derivatives, oral estrogens, etc.) and genetic abnormalities (mutations ApoA-I, LCAT, ABC1). Low level is defined as less than 40 mg/dL.

Triglycerides
Triglyceride level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and/or metabolic syndrome. Food intake prior to testing may cause elevated levels, up to 20%. Normal level is defined as less than 150 mg/dL. Borderline high is defined as 150 to 199 mg/dL. High level is between 200 to 499 mg/dL. Greater than 500mg/dL is defined as very high, and is associated with pancreatitis and requires medical treatment.

Screening Age
Health organizations does not have a consensus on the age to begin screening for hyperlipidemia. USPSTF recommends men older than 35 and women older than 45 to be screened. NCE-ATP III recommends all adults older than 20 to be screened as it may lead potential lifestyle modification that can reduce risks of other diseases. However, screening should be done for those with known CHD or risk-equivalent conditions (e.g. Acute Coronary Syndrome, history of heart attacks, Stable or Unstable angina, Transient ischemic attacks, Peripheral arterial disease of atherosclerotic origins, coronary or other arterial revascularization).

Screening Frequency
Most screening guidelines recommends testing every 5 years. USPSTF recommends increased frequency for people with elevated risk of CHD, which may be determined using cardiovascular disease risk scores. deleted

Screening
Testing the general population under the age of 40 without symptoms is of unclear benefit.