Comparison of modified Friedewalds formula with direct measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Bangladeshi population
A modification of Friedewalds formula to estimate serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) up to serum triglyceride (TG) level of 11.3 mmol/L in Bangladeshi population has recently been published. The aim of this study was to compare the modified formula with direct measurement of LDLC in Bangladeshi population in a different setting. One thousand and fifty two specimens from adult subjects were analyzed. Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), LDLC and TG were measured by standard methods. The modified Friedewalds formula was applied to estimate LDL cholesterol concentration. Results were expressed as mean ± SD and calculated LDLC was compared with measured LDLC by two-tailed paired t test, Bland-Altman plot for absolute bias, Pearsons correlation coefficients of calculated LDLC with measured LDLC and Passing & Bablok regression equation of calculated LDLC against measured LDLC. The mean ± SD of measured LDLC was 2.98±0.82 mmol/L. LDLC calculated by modified Friedewalds formula was 2.77±0.86 mmol/L. The mean absolute bias was 0.20±0.32 mmol/L, Pearsons correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9293 (P<0.0001) and Passing & Bablok regression equation was y= 0.3856+1.0597x for modified formula up to serum TG?11.3 mmol/L. Compared to original Friedewalds formula, performance of the modified Friedewalds formula was better up to serum TG?4.52 mmol/L. The study reveals that the modified Friedewalds formula may be used to calculate LDLC approximately in Bangladeshi population. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v39i3.20312 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2013; 39: 120-123