Desirable: <200 mg/dL

Borderline High: 200-239 mg/dL

High: >or=240 mg/dL

It is important to review the results of your lipid panel with your health care provider. You can compare your lipid results to the ranges below and whether they are in the desirable range. These ranges are only meant to be used for people without known cardiac disease, history of stroke, or peripheral vascular disease (blockages in the leg arteries or diabetes). If you have one of these conditions, your desirable LDL-C (bad cholesterol) will likely be even lower.  

ACC/AHA Guidelines (most recently Lloyd-Jones et al. JACC 10/4/22):

•    For individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or LDL ≥190 mg/dL, use a high-intensity statin(40-80 mg atorvastatin or 20-40 mg rosuvastatin with goal ≥50% LDL reduction)
•    For individuals with diabetes, age 40-75 without ASCVD, moderate-intensity statin (goal 30-49% LDL reduction); consider high intensity statin for those with increased risk. 
•    For adults without diabetes or ASCVD, aged 40-75 with LDL 70-189 mg/dL, estimate 10 year ASCVD risk with smartphrase  .ASCVDRISK  or Dynamed Decisions. If 10 year risk is 7.5%-19.9% (intermediate risk), consider moderate intensity statin based on risk enhancers and patient preference. Consider coronary artery calcium test (CT)if there is concern regarding the benefit of a statin. If ten year risk is ≥20%, initiate high-intensity statin.
•    Evaluate for secondary causes of Triglycerides >500 mg/dL or LDL >190 mg/dL. 
•    Lifestyle modification is a critical component of ASCVD risk reduction.
•    If not reaching LDL goals on maximally tolerated statin, consider ezetimibe and/or a PCSK9 inhibitor:  
o    Target for primary prevention: LDL<100
o    Target for those with ASCVD or diabetes and 10-year risk≥20%: LDL<70
o    Target for those with very high risk ASCVD: LDL<55 (Very high risk being the presence of 2 or more of: recent acute coronary syndrome, past myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, symptomatic peripheral artery disease)
 

Males High Risk: <40 mg/dL

Females High Risk: <50 mg/dL