Nonfasting lipid testing: the new standard for cardiovascular risk assessment

Hypercholesterolemia is the strongest modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease,1 and measurement of plasma lipid levels is an integral part of overall cardiovascular risk assessment. Physicians and patients are used to having lipid profiles measured when the patient has fasted because of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) 2018-11, Vol.190 (45), p.E1317-E1318
Main Authors: Darras, Pol, MD, Mattman, Andre, MD, Francis, Gordon A., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apolipoproteins
Cardiovascular disease
Cholesterol
Fasting
Health risk assessment
Internal Medicine
Laboratories
Lipids
Medical tests
Risk factors
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Summary:Hypercholesterolemia is the strongest modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease,1 and measurement of plasma lipid levels is an integral part of overall cardiovascular risk assessment. Physicians and patients are used to having lipid profiles measured when the patient has fasted because of the assumption that fasting lipid profiles avoid substantial variability in the results caused by eating. However, recent evidence has shown that nonfasting lipid testing is more suitable, and nonfasting testing for baseline and follow-up complete lipid profiles, including low-density--lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, is now recommended by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the College of Family Physicians of Canada guidelines for lipid testing. Nonfasting lipid testing is more comfortable and convenient for patients, and can increase the timeliness and safety of lipid screening. Here, Darras et al discuss the evidence behind the recent recommendations and how the results of such tests should be interpreted by physicians.
ISSN:0820-3946
1488-2329
DOI:10.1503/cmaj.180804