D2I2.
metabolic⚑ High burden in India

Dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol)

is a disorder characterized by abnormally high or low amounts of any or all lipids or lipoproteins in the blood. Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic diseases, which include disease, cerebrovascular disease, and artery disease. Although dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, abnormal levels do not mean that lipid lowering agents need to be started. Other factors, such as comorbid conditions and lifestyle in addition to dyslipidemia, is considered in a cardiovascular risk assessment. In developed countries, most dyslipidemias are hyperlipidemias; that is, an elevation of lipids in the blood. This is often due to diet and lifestyle. Prolonged elevation of resistance can also lead to dyslipidemia.

Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.

Symptoms — what it feels like

  • ·

Complications

  • · disease, disease
The genetics, in one picture

Who a European-built risk score flags as “high-risk”

The score (PGS000061) was tuned so 10% of Europeanscross the “high-risk” line (the dashed mark). Bars reaching past it are over-flagged; bars well short are under-flagged — either way the ruler is mis-set for that group.

Punjabi (Lahore)
9%
European
10%
Sri Lankan Tamil
10%
All-India · GenomeIndia
11%
Telugu (India)
11%
South Asian (all)
12%
Bengali
12%
Gujarati
16%

Share above the European top-10% cutoff. The All-India row is computed on GenomeIndia (≈10,000 genomes); the per-subpopulation rows on 1000 Genomes. Analytical mean-shift, not validated against Indian outcomes. See methods.

Did you know?
A cholesterol risk score over-flags 1 in 6 Gujaratis
PGS000061 marks 16.4% of Gujaratis as high-risk versus the intended 10% - the ruler is set to European genetics, not Indian.
↓ Card
Source: D2I2 PRS analysis (1000 Genomes phase 3)

The sections below are general education drawn from public guidelines (NHS, Mayo, CPIC, WHO, ICMR). They are not individually reviewed by a clinician and are not medical advice — always talk to a doctor about your own health.

When to see a doctor

Usually fine

High cholesterol usually has no symptoms, so a routine blood test is the way to find it, especially with a family history or other heart risks.

See a doctor

See a doctor to get a cholesterol blood test if you have a family history of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, are overweight, or smoke.

Get care urgently

Get emergency help for chest pain spreading to the arm or jaw, sudden breathlessness, or sudden weakness or slurred speech. High cholesterol raises the risk of heart attack and stroke, whose warning signs need immediate care.

General guidance, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, see a doctor.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • ?What do my cholesterol numbers mean, and what are my targets?
  • ?Given my family history, how high is my heart-disease risk?
  • ?Which food and lifestyle changes help most?
  • ?How often should I repeat the blood test?
  • ?Do my other risks (blood pressure, sugar) need checking too?
  • ?What warning signs of heart problems should I know?

What to note before your visit

  • ·your past cholesterol results if you have them
  • ·family history of early heart attack or stroke
  • ·your diet, activity, weight, and smoking
  • ·current medicines you take

Test yourself

0/4 answered

4 quick questions on Dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol). Tap an answer to check it.

1. Dyslipidaemia involves abnormal levels of what in the blood?
2. Dyslipidaemia is a risk factor for which type of disease?
3. In developed countries, most cases of dyslipidaemia are mainly due to:
4. Prolonged high levels of what can also lead to dyslipidaemia?
An open question — could you help answer it?

A European-trained for dyslipidaemia (high ) flags 16.4% of Gujarati people as high-risk - vs the 10% it was designed for. That's a 1.6x : the score's 'average' is set to European , so it systematically mis-reads South Asians (a +0.40 SD ).

A study that would help: PGS000061 on an Indian (define the threshold on South-Asian, not European, risk) and quantify how many people get correctly . A concrete, fundable validation study once a + Indian sample is in hand.

Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.