Non-fasting samples for estimation of serum lipid levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Background: Evaluation of dyslipidaemia requiring fasting serum sample may not be possible in patients hospitalized in the acute phase. Evaluation of lipids in non-fasting sample was found to be useful but there are not many reports from India. Methods: One hundred and forty five patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) patients grouped as stable angina (SA), unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI) and 66 healthy subjects were studied. Total serum cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and non-HDL were estimated in a non-fasting serum sample. Results: Increase in total serum cholesterol, TG, non-HDL along with a decrease in HDL levels was observed in CAD patients. The same trend was observed across the spectrum of CAD (SA, UA and MI). Conclusions: Non-fasting sample can also be utilized in order to evaluate CAD patients hospitalized in the acute phase where waiting for obtaining a fasting sample may delay institution of specific treatment.