Growing Concern over Cholesterol Imbalance and Heart Health

The results of a statewide review of 3.9 lakh lipid profile tests performed in the previous year have been made public by Metropolis Healthcare.

According to the study, there has been a worrying change in the cardiovascular landscape of India: one in four people have abnormal cholesterol levels, and the most prevalent risk factor is low levels of "good cholesterol" (HDL).

The results highlight that lipid abnormalities are no longer limited to older adults or individuals with obesity. Almost 60% of all tests occurred in individuals between 31 and 60 years of age, and within this age group, cholesterol and triglyceride abnormalities were particularly high — emphasizing an important time frame to take preventive measures through lifestyle changes, monitoring, and treatment.

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Approximately 30% of people had raised total cholesterol, 33% had aberrant triglycerides, and 35% had low HDL levels, which greatly increased their risk of cardiovascular disease. These findings are important national insights from the study. The prevalence of lipid imbalance was highlighted by the fact that 25% of participants had borderline to extremely high LDL cholesterol and at least 24% had borderline or high non-HDL cholesterol, a potent marker of atherosclerosis.

The study's startling finding is that these anomalies are becoming less and less related to fat. Low HDL and increased triglycerides were found in many otherwise healthy people, suggesting that poor food, sedentary lifestyles, stress, and insufficient physical activity are the main causes of cardiovascular risk. This emphasizes the necessity of expanding public health message to include a more thorough emphasis on heart health rather than just weight management.