Accuracy of the Ratio of Triglycerides to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol for Predicting Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Particle Sizes, Phenotype B, and Particle Concentrations Among Asian Indians

Asian Indians have unusually high rates of coronary artery disease. Small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle predominance (phenotype B) is associated with a fourfold atherogenic risk. This study examined the accuracy of a triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ratio of ≥3.8 (determined from the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, normal triglycerides <150 mg/dl and HDL >40 mg/dl) for predicting phenotype B in Asian Indians. Fasting blood samples were collected from 150 healthy Asian Indians. LDL size analysis was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio correlated inversely with the LDL size and positively with the particle concentration. A triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio of ≥3.8 had 76% sensitivity, 93% specificity, and 83% positive and 89% negative predictive values for predicting phenotype B.