Metrics Reference

The amount of cholesterol carried inside LDL particles. It measures cholesterol mass, not the number of particles.

LDL-C delivers cholesterol into the arterial wall and contributes to plaque formation. Lower LDL-C is associated with lower cardiovascular risk, but LDL-C can mislead when particle number is high but cholesterol per particle is low (discordance).

The amount of cholesterol carried within HDL particles, traditionally labelled "good cholesterol."

HDL-C is an association marker, not a causal one. Higher HDL-C often tracks with better metabolic health, but raising HDL-C itself does not reduce risk. Very high or very low values can both signal underlying dysfunction.

The main form of circulating fat, carried mostly in VLDL and chylomicrons. Reflects how the body is handling energy and carbohydrate load.

Elevated triglycerides signal impaired metabolic health and are tightly linked to insulin resistance, fatty liver, and higher atherosclerotic risk. They also drive ApoB by increasing VLDL particle production.

Apolipoprotein B is present on every atherogenic lipoprotein (LDL, VLDL, IDL, Lp(a)), so it represents the total number of cholesterol-carrying particles in circulation.

Atherosclerosis is driven by particle number, not cholesterol mass. ApoB predicts risk better than LDL-C, especially with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or LDL discordance.

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) is a blood marker of low-grade systemic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation accelerates atherosclerosis and tracks with cardiometabolic risk. hs-CRP reflects inflammatory burden, not a specific disease.

The percentage of haemoglobin that is glycated, reflecting average blood glucose over the prior ~2–3 months.

HbA1c captures chronic glycaemic exposure, which drives microvascular damage and long-term cardiometabolic risk. It misses short-term spikes and early insulin resistance.

Blood glucose measured after an overnight fast, reflecting hepatic glucose output and basal insulin control.

Elevated fasting glucose indicates impaired glucose regulation and increased diabetes risk. It is easy to measure but can remain normal despite significant insulin resistance.

Insulin concentration after an overnight fast, reflecting how hard the pancreas is working to maintain normal glucose.

Fasting insulin is a sensitive marker of insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, often rising years before glucose or HbA1c become abnormal.

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) is a liver enzyme released into the blood when liver cells are stressed or damaged.

ALT is a marker of liver health and metabolic stress. Mild elevations often reflect fatty liver or insulin resistance rather than overt liver disease.

Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) is a liver enzyme involved in glutathione metabolism and oxidative stress.

GGT is a sensitive marker of liver stress, alcohol exposure, and cardiometabolic risk. It often rises before ALT in fatty liver and insulin resistance.

The peak arterial pressure during heart contraction.

Systolic pressure is the strongest blood pressure–related predictor of cardiovascular events. Elevated levels directly damage arteries and accelerate atherosclerosis.

The arterial pressure during heart relaxation between beats.

Diastolic pressure reflects baseline vascular tone. Very high levels increase risk, while very low levels may impair coronary perfusion in older adults.

The number of heartbeats per minute at rest.

Resting heart rate reflects autonomic balance and cardiorespiratory fitness. Lower rates generally indicate better cardiovascular efficiency.

A breakdown product of muscle metabolism, cleared by the kidneys.

Creatinine is used to estimate kidney function but is strongly influenced by muscle mass, age, and sex, which can obscure early kidney disease.

estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is a calculated estimate of kidney filtration capacity, usually derived from creatinine, age, and sex.

eGFR is the standard marker for staging chronic kidney disease and correlates with cardiovascular and mortality risk.

A low–molecular weight protein filtered by the kidneys, largely independent of muscle mass.

Cystatin C provides a cleaner estimate of kidney function than creatinine and improves risk prediction for cardiovascular disease and mortality.

The proportion of total body weight made up of fat tissue.

Excess body fat, particularly visceral fat, drives insulin resistance, inflammation, and cardiometabolic disease. Body fat percentage is more informative than weight or BMI alone.

All non-fat tissue, primarily skeletal muscle.

Lean mass is a major determinant of strength, metabolic health, glucose disposal, and resilience with aging. Loss of lean mass predicts frailty and higher mortality.

A measure of mineral content in bone, reflecting bone strength.

Low bone density increases fracture risk and is associated with frailty and loss of independence later in life.

The oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

Hemoglobin reflects oxygen delivery capacity. Low levels impair exercise tolerance and cognition; high levels may indicate dehydration or underlying pathology.

A marker of stored iron in the body.

Low ferritin indicates depleted iron stores; very high levels may reflect iron overload or inflammation. Both extremes are associated with adverse health outcomes.