Cardio dyslipidaemia is the disruption in the balance of good and bad lipids in the blood. It is extremely common in the general population and can be used as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Dyslipidaemia may be genetic or secondary to other causes and can be affected by diet and lifestyle. A clinician will use a lipid profile in addition to background medical history before trying to determine risk. The lipid profile comprises total cholesterol, triglycerides, High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol and additional parameters such as apolipoproteins. LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol plays a central role in the development of fatty deposits on blood vessel walls (atherosclerotic lesions). It is probably the most important CVD risk factor. HDL cholesterol, a negative risk factor, aids in eliminating cholesterol from the body. Other risk factors for CVD include family history, smoking status, diabetes, blood pressure, gender, obesity, and age. Regular assessment of these parameters is necessary to establish risk and, if necessary, monitor treatment.

Depending on medical history and examination, the following tests may also be appropriate:

• CVD risk: high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, homocysteine and Total Anti-oxidant Status.
• Glycaemic control: Plasma glucose, HbA1c, fructosamine
• Renal disease: urea, creatinine, Na+, K+, phosphate, bicarbonate, urate, urinary protein/microalbumin and creatinine
• Liver disease: Bilirubin, ALT or AST, ALP, GGT, Albumin, Total Protein
• Thyroid function Tests: TSH, FT4