The quantification of HDL cholesterol is significant in the risk assessment of which disease?

• A. Pancreatitis
• B. Cirrhosis
• C. Coronary artery disease
• D. Hyperlipidemia

Answer: (C)

HDL cholesterol is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk because it participates in reverse cholesterol transport—removing excess cholesterol from arterial walls and bringing it to the liver for disposal. Higher levels of HDL generally protect against atherosclerosis, while low HDL is linked to an increased risk of coronary artery disease. In risk assessment, HDL is considered alongside other lipids to estimate the likelihood of cardiovascular events, making its quantification most relevant for coronary artery disease. While HDL is part of the broader lipid picture, pancreatitis is more closely related to triglyceride levels, cirrhosis affects lipid metabolism in a way that isn’t used primarily for risk stratification, and hyperlipidemia refers to elevated lipids in general rather than the specific risk assessment impact of HDL for heart disease.