J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Dec;27(12):1530-1535. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1530.

Optimal Range of Triglyceride Values to Estimate Serum Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration in Korean Adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009

• Hwang YC
• Ahn HY
• Jeong IK
• Ahn KJ
• Chung HY

• KMID: 2157977
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1530

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the validity of Friedewald's formula and to propose a range of triglyceride values over which the formula can be used without significant error. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 1,929 subjects (946 males and 983 females) aged 20 yr and older using data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009. Estimated total number was considered to be 10,633,655 (5,846,384 males and 4,787,271 females). Calculated and directly-measured low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values were highly correlated (r = 0.96); however, significant differences were observed between the directly-measured and calculated LDL-C concentrations. Subjects in the underestimated group (10.5%) had higher dysmetabolic profiles than those in the overestimated group (11.4%). Although serum triglyceride level showed the greatest independent association with differences between the calculated and directly-measured LDL-C concentrations, no statistically significant differences were noted when triglyceride concentration was between 36 and 298 mg/dL (93.2%). In conclusion, Friedewald's formula accurately estimates directly-measured serum LDL-C concentration in Korean adults. However, the formula can be applied to subjects with serum triglyceride concentrations from 36 to 298 mg/dL without significant error.

Keyword

Friedewald's Formula; Cholesterol, LDL; Validation; Triglycerides; Korean

MeSH Terms

Adult
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol, LDL/*blood/standards
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Hyperlipidemias/diagnosis
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Surveys
Reference Values
Regression Analysis
Republic of Korea
Triglycerides/*blood/standards
Cholesterol, LDL
Triglycerides

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Difference between directly-measured LDL cholesterol and estimated LDL cholesterol values according to serum triglyceride concentration.

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